Skip to main content

Hypothalamic Neurobiology

  • Chapter
Brain Slices

Abstract

Reviewed in this chapter are the contributions made to our current understanding of hypothalamic neurobiology by studies involving the use of brain slices. These contributions must be viewed in the context of what questions were perceived to be important at the time that the hypothalamic in vitro slice became a reality. With this in mind, an attempt has been made to give a brief, but informative background sketch of each field of hypothalamic function to which slice technology has been successfully applied. My expectation is that the reader will agree that the picture of neural function in the hypothalamus, viewed as it were, through the slice, is somewhat clearer than it was heretofore. Some of our prior notions, gleaned from in vivo studies, have been confirmed; others have been modified beyond recognition. A few extremely well-kept hypothalamic secrets have been revealed, though many await our further arduous sleuthing activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abe, H. and Ogata, N., 1982, Ionic mechanism for the osmotically-induced depolarization in neurons of the guinea-pig supraoptic nucleus in vitro, J. Physiol. (London) 327:157–171.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Almli, C. R. and Weiss, C. S., 1974, Drinking behaviours: Effects of lateral preoptic and lateral hypothalamic destruction, Physiol. Behav. 13:527–538.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrew, R. D., MacVicar, B. A., Dudek, F. E., and Hatton, G. I., 1981, Dye transfer through gap junctions between neuroendocrine cells of rat hypothalamus, Science 211:1187–1189.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antunes, J. L., Carmel, P. W., and Zimmerman, E. A., 1977, Projections from the paraventricular nucleus to the zona externa of the median eminence of the rhesus monkey: An immunohistochemical study, Brain Res. 137:1–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, W. E., Warach, S., Hatton, G. I., and McNeill, T. H., 1980, Subnuclei in the rat paraventricular nucleus: A cytoarchitectural, horseradish peroxidase and immunocytochemical analysis, Neuroscience 5:1931–1958.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann, W. and Scharrer, E., 1951, The site of origin of the hormones of the posterior pituitary, Am. Scientist 39:255–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, M. V. L., 1978, Junctional permeability, in: Intercellular Junctions and Synapses (J. Feldman, N. B. Gilula, and J. D. Pitts, eds.), Halsted Press, New York, pp. 23–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blass, E. M. and Epstein, A. N., 1971, A lateral preoptic osmosensitive zone for thirst in the rat, J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 76:378–394.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brimble, M. J. and Dyball, R. E. J., 1977, Characterization of the responses of oxytocin-and vasopressin-secreting neurones in the supraoptic nucleus to osmotic stimulation, J. Physiol (London) 271:253–272.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brimble, M. J., Haller, E. W., and Wakerley, J. B., 1978, Supraoptic and paraventricular units in hypothalamic slices incubated in iso- or hypertonic medium, J. Physiol. (London) 278:38P-39P.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boulant, J. A., 1980, Hypothalamic control of thermoregulation: Neurophysiological basis, in: Handbook of the Hypothalamus, Volume 3, Part A (P. J. Morgane and J. Panksepp, eds.), Marcel Dekker, New York, pp. 1–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourque, C. and Renaud, L. P., 1981, Osmosensitivity of rat supraoptic neurosecretory neurons in the isolated and perfused basal hypothalamus, Can. Physiol. 12:93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobbett, P., Smithson, K. G., and Hatton, G. I., 1982, Immunoreactivity to neurophysins I and II in dye-coupled magnocellular hypothalamic neurons, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 8:531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobbett, P., Hatton, G. I. and Salm, A. K., 1983, Evidence for local circuits in the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus, J. Physiol. (London). 338:43P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad, L. C. and Pfaff, D. W., 1976, Efferents from medial basal forebrain and hypothalamus in the rat—II. An autoradiographic study of the anterior hypothalamus, J. Comp. Neurol. 169:221–262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Defendini, R. and Zimmerman, E. A., 1978, The magnocellular neurosecretory system of the mammalian hypothalamus, in: The Hypothalamus (S. Reichlin, R. J. Baldessarini, and J. B. Martin, eds.), Raven Press, New York, pp. 137–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Wied, D., 1980, Behavioral actions of neurohypophysial peptides, Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. B 210:183–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dreifuss, J. J. and Kelly, J. S., 1972, The activity of identified supraoptic neurones and their response to acetylcholine applied by iontophoresis, J. Physiol. (London) 220:105–118.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dreifuss, J. J., Tribollet, E., Baertchi, A. J., and Lincoln, D. W., 1976, Mammalian endocrine neurons: Control of phasic activity by antidromic action potentials, Neurosci. Lett. 3:281–286.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dudek, F. E., Hatton, G. I., and MacVicar, B. A., 1980, Intracellular recordings from the paraventricular nucleus in slices of rat hypothalamus, J. Physiol. (London) 301:101–114.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dyball, R. E. J., 1971, Oxytocin and ADH secretion in relation to electrical activity in antidromically identified supraoptic and paraventricular units, J. Physiol. (London) 214:245–256.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finlayson, L. H. and Osborne, M. P., 1975, Secretory activity of neurons and related electrical activity, Adv. Comp. Physiol. Biochem. 6:165–258.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forsling, M. L., 1977, Anti-Diuretic Hormone, Volume 2, Eden Press, Montreal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gähwiler, B. H. and Dreifuss, J. J., 1979, Phasically firing neurons in long-term cultures of rat hypothalamic supraoptic area: Pacemaker and follower cells, Brain Res. 177:95–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, D. J. and Gillette, R., 1982, Circadian rhythm of firing rate recorded from single cells in the rat suprachiasmatic brain slice, Brain Res. 245:198–200.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, W. A., Tweedle, C. D., and Hatton, G. I., 1980, Ultrastructure of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of normal, dehydrated and rehydrated rats, Brain Res. Bull. 5:301–306.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groos, G. A. and Hendriks, J., 1979, Regularly firing neurones in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus, Experientia 35:1597–1598.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haller, E. W. and Wakerley, J. B., 1980, Electrophysiological studies of paraventricular and supraoptic neurones recorded in vitro from slices of rat hypothalamus, J. Physiol. (London) 302:347–362.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haller, E. W., Brimble, M. J., and Wakerley, J. B., 1978, Phasic discharge in supraoptic neurones recorded from hypothalamic slices, Exp. Brain Res. 33:131–134.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., 1976, Nucleus circularis: Is it an osmoreceptor in the brain?, Brain Res. Bull. 1:123–131.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., 1982, Phasic bursting activity of rat paraventricular neurones in the absence of synaptic transmission, J. Physiol. (London) 327:273–284.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., 1983, Some well-kept hypothalamic secrets revealed, Fed. Proc. 42:2869–2874.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I. and Tweedle, C. D., 1982, Magnocellular neuropeptidergic neurons in hypothalamus: Increases in membrane apposition and number of specialized synapses from pregnancy to lactation, Brain Res. Bull. 8:197–204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., Hutton, U. E., Hoblitzell, E. R., and Armstrong, W. E., 1976, Morphological evidence for two populations of magnocellular elements in the rat paraventricular nucleus, Brain Res. 108:187–193.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., Gregory, W. A., and Armstrong, W. E., 1977, Bursting activity in rat hypothalamic neurosecretory cells in vitro in response to osmotic stimulation, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 345: in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., Armstrong, W. E., and Gregory, W. A., 1978, Spontaneous and osmotically-stimulated activity in slices of rat hypothalamus, Brain Res. Bull. 3:497–508.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., Doran, A. D., Salm, A. K., and Tweedle, C. D., 1980, Brain slice preparation: Hypothalamus, Brain Res. Bull. 5:405–414.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., Ho, Y. W., and Mason, W. T., 1983a, Synaptic activation of phasic bursting in rat supraoptic nucleus neurons recorded in hypothalamic slices, J. Physiol (London), 345: in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, G. I., Ho, Y. W., and Mason, W. T., 1983b, Rat supraoptic (SON) neurones have axon collaterals: anatomical and electrophysiological evidence, J. Physiol (London), in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayward, J. N., 1977, Functional and morphological aspects of hypothalamic neurons, Physiol. Rev. 57:574–658.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hertz, L., 1977, Drug-induced alterations of ion distribution at the cellular level of the central nervous system, Pharmacol. Rev. 29:35–65.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hori, T., Nakashima, T., Hori, N., and Kiyohara, T., 1980, Thermo-sensitive neurons in hypothalamic tissue slices in vitro, Brain Res. 186:203–207.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hounsgaard, J. and Nicholson, C., 1981, Dendritic and somatic action potentials in single Purkinje cells change [K+]0 and [Ca2 +]0, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 7:225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, E. R., 1964, Electrical properties of hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells, J. Gen. Physiol. 47:691–717.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelso, S. R. and Boulant, J. A., 1982, Effect of synaptic blockade on thermosensitive neurons in hypothalamic tissue slices, Amer. J. Physiol. 243:480–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelso, S. R., Perlmutter, M. N., and Boulant, J. A., 1982, Thermosensitive single-unit activity of in vitro hypothalamic slices, Am. J. Physiol. 242:R77-R84.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kita, H., Shibata, S., and Oomura, Y., 1981, Circadian rhythmic changes of SCN neuronal activity in the rat hypothalamic slice, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 7:858.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koizumi, K. and Yamashita, H., 1972, Studies of antidromically identified neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus by intracellular and extracellular recordings, J. Physiol. (London) 221:683–705.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacVicar, B. A., Andrew, R. D., Dudek, F. E., and Hatton, G. I., 1982, Synaptic inputs and action potentials of magnocellular neuropeptidergic cells: Intracellular recording and staining in slices of rat hypothalamus, Brain Res. Bull. 8:87–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, W. T., 1980, Supraoptic neurones of rat hypothalamus are osmosensitive, Nature (London) 287:154–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, W. T., 1982, Dye coupling, gap junctions and synchronous unit activity in the rat supraoptic nucleus (SON), J. Physiol. (London) 327:44P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, C. A. and Bern, H. A., 1977, Cellular biology of the neurosecretory neuron, in: Handbook of Physiology, Section I: The Nervous System, Volume 1 Cellular Biology of Neurons, Part 2 (E. R. Kandel, ed.), American Physiological Society, Bethesda, pp. 651–689.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, C. and Hounsgaard, J., 1983, Diffusion in the slice microenvironment and implications for physiological studies, Fed. Proc. 42:2865–2868.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orkand, R. K., 1977, Glial cells, in: Handbook of Physiology, Section I: The Nervous System, Volume I Cellular Biology of Neurons, Part 2. (E. R. Kandel, ed.), American Physiological Society, Bethesda, pp. 855–875.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble, R. and Wakerley, J. B., 1982, Behavior of phasically active supraoptic neurones in vitro during osmotic challenge with sodium chloride or mannitol, J. Physiol. (London) 327:41P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palay, S. L., 1957, The fine structure of the neurohypophysis, in: Ultrastructure and Cellular Chemistry of Neural Tissue (H. Welsch, ed.), Hoeber Press, New York, pp. 31–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck, J. W. and Novin, D., 1971, Evidence that osmoreceptors mediating drinking in rabbits are in the lateral preoptic area, J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 74:134–147.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R. P., 1966, Magnocellular neurosecretory centers in the rat hypothalamus, J. Comp. Neurol. 128:181–190.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pittman, Q. J., Hatton, J. D., and Bloom, F. E., 1980, Morphine and opioid peptides reduce paraventricular activity: Studies on the rat hypothalamic slice preparation, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:5527–5531.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pittman, Q. J., Blume, H. W., and Renaud, L. P., 1981, Connections of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus with the neurohypophysis, median eminence, amygdala, lateral septum and midbrain periaqueductal gray: An electrophysiological study in the rat, Brain Res. 215:15–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poulain, D. A. and Wakerley, J. B., 1982, Electrophysiology of hypothalamic magnocellular neurones secreting oxytocin and vasopressin, Neuroscience 7:773–808.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poulain, D. A., Wakerley, J. B., and Dyball, R. E. J., 1977, Electrophysiological differentiation of oxytocin- and vasopressin-secreting neurons, Proc. R. Soc. London 196:367–384.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, J. S., 1977, Oxytocin, Volume 1, Eden Press, Montreal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rusak, B. and Zucker, L, 1979, Neural regulation of circadian rhythms, Physiol. Rev. 59:449–526.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salm, A. K. and Hatton, G. I., 1982, Distribution of met-enkephalin, oxytocin and vaso-pressin-like immunoreactivities in the rat paraventricular nucleus (PVN), Anat. Rec. 202:166A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saper, C. B., Lowey, A. D., Swanson, L. W., and Cowan, W. M., 1976, Direct hypoth-alamo-autonomic connections, Brain Res. 117:305–312.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sherlock, D. A., Field, P. M., and Raisman, G., 1975, Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in the magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat, Brain Res. 88:403–414.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, A. J., Hoffman, D., and Zimmerman, E. A., 1981, The descending afferent connections of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), Brain Res. Bull. 6:47–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sladek, C. D. and Joynt, R. J., 1979, Characterization of cholinergic control of vasopressin release by the organ-cultured rat hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, Endocrinology 104:659–663.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, W. W., 1978, Functional connections between cells as revealed by dye-coupling with a highly fluorescent naphthalimide tracer, Cell 14:741–759.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swaab, D. F., Pool, C. W., and Nijveldt, F., 1975, Immunofluorescence of vasopressin and oxytocin in the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, J. Neural Trans. 36:195–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, L. W., 1977, Immunohistochemical evidence for a neurophysin-containing autonomic pathway arising in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, Brain Res. 128:346–353.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Theodosis, D. T., Poulain, D. A., and Vincent, J.-D., 1981, Possible morphological bases for synchronisation of neural firing in the rat supraoptic nucleus during lactation, Neuroscience 6:919–929.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tribollet, E. and Dreifuss, J. J., 1981, Localization of neurones projecting to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus area of the rat: A horseradish peroxidase study, Neuroscience 6:1315–1328.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tweedle, C. D. and Hatton, G. I., 1976, Ultrastructural comparisons of neurons of supraoptic and circularis nuclei in normal and dehydrated rats, Brain Res. Bull. 1:103–121.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tweedle, C. D. and Hatton, G. I., 1977, Ultrastructural changes in rat hypothalamic neurosecretory cells and their associated glia during minimal dehydration and rehydration, Cell Tissue Res. 181:59–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tweedle, C. D. and Hatton, G.I., 1982, Specialized synapses and direct cell-cell apposition in rat supraoptic nucleus: Increases with chronic physiological stimulation, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 8:745.

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Pol, A. N., 1980, The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat: Intrinsic anatomy, J. Comp. Neurol. 191:661–702.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van den Pol, A. N., 1982, The magnocellular and parvocellular paraventricular nucleus of rat: Intrinsic organization, J. Comp. Neurol. 206:317–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandesande, F. and Dierickx, K., 1975, Identification of the vasopressin producing neurons in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat, Cell Tissue Res. 165:153–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakerley, J. B. and Lincoln, D. W., 1973, The milk ejection reflex of the rat: A 20- to 40-fold acceleration in the firing of paraventricular neurones during oxytocin release, J. Endocrinol. 57:477–493.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wakerley, J. B., Poulain, D. A., and Brown, D., 1978, Comparison of firing patterns in oxytocin- and vasopressin-releasing neurones during progressive dehydration, Brain Res. 148:425–440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiegand, S. J. and Price, J. L., 1980, The cells of origin of the afferent fibers to the median eminence in the rat, J. Comp. Neurol. 192:1–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yarom, Y. and Spira, M. E., 1982, Extracellular potassium ions mediate specific neuronal interaction, Science 216:80–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hatton, G.I. (1984). Hypothalamic Neurobiology. In: Dingledine, R. (eds) Brain Slices. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4583-1_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4583-1_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4585-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4583-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics