Skip to main content

Action of vasopressin on neurons and microvessels in the rat hippocampal slice

Experimental Brain Research volume 66, pages 401–408 (1987)Cite this article

Summary

Arginine vasopressin is reported to have an excitatory effect on hippocampal neurons in the slice preparation. However, vasopressin also has a classic vasopressor action on mammalian blood vessels. We used the rat hippocampal slice to examine the effects of this peptide on central neural and vascular targets. The hippocampus is densely vascularized and pyramidal cells are enmeshed in a network of microvessels. Vasopressin increased the excitability of impaled neurons without substantially altering membrane potential or resistance. The peptide also caused pronounced vasoconstriction in penetrating microvessels when applied at micromolar concentrations. The concerted action of vasopressin on neurons and blood vessels and the physical proximity of these cell types suggest mechanisms whereby these responses may be associated.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Abe H, Inoue T, Matsuo T, Ogata N (1982) The effects of vasopressin on the electrical activity of the guinea-pig supraoptic nucleus in vitro. J Physiol 337: 665–685

    Google Scholar 

  • Altura B, Altura B (1977) Vascular smooth muscle and neurohypophyseal hormones. Fed Proc 36: 1853–1859

    Google Scholar 

  • Buijs RM, Heerikhuize JJ (1982) Vasopressin and oxytocin release in the brain: a synaptic effect. Brain Res 252: 71–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Conde MV, Gomez B, Lluch S (1981) Contractile response of the isolated human middle cerebral artery to vasoactive agents. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 1: (Suppl 1) 350–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Crunelli V, Forda S, Kelly JS, Wise JCM (1983) A programme for the analysis of intracellular data recorded from in vitro preparations of central neurones. J Physiol 340: 13P

  • Davis AK, Janigro D, Schwartzkroin PA (1985) Effects of pre-incubation on CA3 pyramidal cells of hippocampus in vitro. Soc Neurosci Abstr 11: 305

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWied D (1980) Behavioral actions of neurohypophyseal peptides. Proc R Soc (Lond) B 210: 183–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckenstein F, Baughman RW (1984) Two types of cholinergic innervation in cortex: one localized with vasoactive intestinal peptide. Nature 309: 153–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Ettenberg A (1984) Intracerebroventricular application of a vasopressin antagonist peptide prevents the behavioral actions of vasopressin. Behav Brain Res 14: 201–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanko J, Hardebo JE, Owman C (1981) Effect of various peptides on cerebral blood vessels. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 1: (Suppl 1) 346–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendry SHC, Jones EG, Beinfield MC (1983) Cholecystokinin-immunoreactive neurons in rat and monkey cerebral cortex make symmetric synapses and have intimate association with blood vessels. Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 80: 2400–2404

    Google Scholar 

  • Jojart I, Joo F, Siklos L, Laszlo FA (1984) Immunoelectrohistochemical evidence for innervation of brain microvessels by vasopressin immunoreactive neurons in the rat. Neurosci Lett 51: 259–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly JS (1982) Intracellular recording from neurons in brain slices in vitro. In: Iversen S, Iversen L, Snyder S (eds) Handbook of psychopharmacology, Vol 15. Plenum, New York, pp 95–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuschinsky W, Wahl M (1978) Local chemical and neurogenic regulation of cerebral vascular resistance. Physiol Rev 58: 656–689

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebrun C, LeMoal M, Koob GF, Bloom F (1985) Vasopressin pressor antagonist injected centrally reverses behavioral effects of peripheral injection of vasopressin, but only at doses that reverse increase in blood pressure. Reg Peptides 11: 173–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Liberman EA, Minina SV, Mjakotina OL, Shklovsky-Kordy NE, Conrad M (1985) Neuron generator potentials evoked by intracellular injection of cyclic nucleotides and mechanical distension. Brain Res 338: 33–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuno Y, Oomura Y, Hori N, Carpenter DO (1984) Action of vasopressin on CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. Brain Res 309: 241–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Mühlethaler M, Dreifuss JJ, Gahwiler BH (1982) Vasopressin excites hippocampal neurones. Nature 296: 749–751

    Google Scholar 

  • Mühlethaler M, Charpak S, Dreifuss JJ (1984) Contrasting effects of neurohypophyseal peptides on pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurones in the rat hippocampus. Brain Res 308: 97–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawlik G, Rackl A, Bing RJ (1981) Quantitative capillary topography and blood flow in the cerebral cortex of cats: an in vivo microscopic study. Brain Res 208: 35–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlmutter AF, Harik SI (1985) A comparison of vasopressin binding to pig cerebral microvessels, cortex and hippocampus. Soc Neurosci Abstr 11: 840

    Google Scholar 

  • Purves M (1972) The physiology of the cerebral circulation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartzkroin PA (1975) Characteristics of CA1 neurons recorded intracellularly in the hippocampal in vitro slice preparation. Brain Res 85: 424–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd G (1979) The synaptic organization of the brain. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Smock T, Topple A (1985) Action of vasopressin on neurons and microvessels in the rat hippocampal slice. Soc Neurosci Abstr 11: 708

    Google Scholar 

  • Smock T, Topple A, Cach R (1986) Neurogenic influence on cerebral microvessels in the rat hippocampal slice. Soc Neurosci Abstr 12: 1401

    Google Scholar 

  • Sofroniew MV (1983) Morphology of vasopressin and oxytocin neurones and their central and vascular projections. In: Cross BA, Leng G (eds) The neurohypophysis: structure, function and control. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Progress in brain research, Vol 60, pp 101–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiberiis BE, McLennan H, Wilson N (1983) Neurohypophyseal peptides and the hippocampus. II. Excitation of rat hippocampal neurons by oxytocin and vasopressin applied in vitro. Neuropeptides 4: 73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Topple A, Purvis R, Smock T, Popejoy S (1987) Vasoconstriction and neural excitation in response to transient hypoxia in the rat hippocampal slice. Brain Res (in press)

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Campus Box 345, 80309, Boulder, CO, USA

    T. Smock, R. Cach & A. Topple

Authors
  1. T. Smock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Cach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Topple
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smock, T., Cach, R. & Topple, A. Action of vasopressin on neurons and microvessels in the rat hippocampal slice. Exp Brain Res 66, 401–408 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243314

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243314

Key words

  • Vasopressin
  • Microvessels
  • Pyramidal cells
  • Hippocampal slice