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Neurosecretory Vesicles: Structure, Distribution, Release and Breakdown

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Neurosecretion: Secretory Mechanisms

Part of the book series: Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology ((MANEURO,volume 8))

Abstract

Peptide-containing vesicles are an evolutionarily ancient way by which cells communicate. Most, if not all, neurons release peptides within the nervous system; neuroendocrine neurons are specialised to release their signalling peptides into the blood stream. Although most neurosecretory vesicles contain one predominant signalling molecule, their cores also contain varying amounts of other signalling molecules and many other molecules that play different roles in the accumulation, processing, storage and stability of the vesicle contents. The vesicle membrane is crucial, not only for segregating the vesicle contents from the cytoplasm in a stable form but also for interacting with the cellular machinery which transports and releases the vesicle contents. Whereas the original interest was on the release of the vesicle contents at the axon terminals of the peptidergic neurons, it is now clear that the vesicles are also transported into and can be released from the dendrites. Indeed, at least for the GnRH neuron the distinction between axon and dendrite is no longer applicable. Electron microscopy, ultracentrifugation, immunocytochemistry and immunoassay have historically been the principal ways in which neurosecretory vesicles have been investigated. Now, increasingly, super-resolution microscopy, microdialysis and injection and a variety of molecular techniques are being used to elucidate finer details of the nature, functions and control of these important signalling organelles.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    John F. Morris

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  1. John F. Morris
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Correspondence to John F. Morris .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA

    José R. Lemos

  2. Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, UMR-S1198, Montpellier, France

    Govindan Dayanithi

Key References: See Main List for Reference Details

Key References: See Main List for Reference Details

  • Herde et al. (2013) The first demonstration that the processes of GnRH neurons have both axonal and dendritic functions.

  • Hurbin et al. (2002) Demonstration that the receptors for the autocrine actions of a neuropeptide are co-localized in the membrane of the dense-cored vesicles of the axons.

  • Ludwig and Leng (2006) An excellent summary of mechanisms of dendritic secretion and its roles.

  • Meister et al. (1990) An early demonstration of the multiple peptides that could be secreted by a magnocellular neuron, and the physiological variation of their amounts within the vesicles.

  • Morris (1976) The first quantitation of the peptide content of a dense-cored neurosecretory vesicle.

  • Morris and Pow (1988) The first demonstration of the exocytotic release of peptides from the dendrites of magnocellular neurosecretory neurons.

  • Morris and Pow (1991) Demonstration of exocytotic release of peptide vesicles from classical synaptic boutons in the CNS.

  • Nordmann and Dayanithi (1988) First demonstration of neuropeptide release from preterminal areas of neurosecretory axons.

  • Tobin et al. (2011) An important demonstration that the proteins involved in dendritic secretion differ from those involved in secretion at the axonal endings and synaptic terminals.

  • van den Pol (2012) A comprehensive summary of the mechanism and roles of neuropeptide transmission in the central nervous system.

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Morris, J.F. (2020). Neurosecretory Vesicles: Structure, Distribution, Release and Breakdown. In: Lemos, J., Dayanithi, G. (eds) Neurosecretion: Secretory Mechanisms. Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology, vol 8. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22989-4_5

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