Summary
Sections of the hypothalamus, median eminence and pituitary from fetal and neonatal rats were examined with the immunoperoxidase staining technique and light microscopy. Purified antisera raised against vasopressin and oxytocin, and antisera cross-reactive with rat neurophysin were used to localize these antigens in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS). Neurophysin was detected throughout the HNS of the 18-day fetal rat. Vasopressin was present in the hypothalamus and pituitary of the 19-day fetus, and in the median eminence of the 4-day neonate. Oxytocin was not detected in the pituitary until 1–2 days after birth, in the hypothalamus after 4 days, and in the median eminence after 8 days. During the first days after birth the supraoptic nucleus was more mature than the paraventricular nucleus. The HNS did not approach maturity until at least 7 days after birth. The relative maturity of the supraoptic nucleus compared with the paraventricular nucleus, and the detection of vasopressin before oxytocin are evidence for the one-neuron-one-hormone theory. The data do not exclude the possibility that the fetal hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, and perhaps the fetal hormone, vasotocin, affect the initiation and course of parturition.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bowie, H.P., Herbert, D.C.: Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of arginine vasotocin in the rat pineal gland. Nature 261, 66 (1976)
Campbell, H.J.: The development of the primary portal plexus in the median eminence of the rat. J. Anat. (Lond.) 100, 381–387 (1966)
Cannatta, M.A., Tramezzani, J.H.: Ultrastructural maturation of the neurohypophysis of the rat. Acta Anat. 97, 213–223 (1977)
Chard, T., Silman, R.E., Rees, L.H.: the fetal hypothalamus and pituitary in the initiation of labour. In: The Fetus and Birth. Ciba Foundation Symposium 47, pp. 359–370. Amsterdam: Elsevier North-Holland 1977
Choy, V.J., Watkins, W.B.: Immunocytochemical study of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. II. Distribution of neurophysin, vasopressin and oxytocin in the normal and osmotically stimulated rat. Cell Tissue Res. 189, 467–490 (1977)
Dicker, S.E.: Release of vasopressin and oxytocin from isolated pituitary glands of adult and newborn rats. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 185, 429–444 (1966)
Donev, S.: Occurrence of neurosecretory substance during the embryonic development of the guinea pig. Z. Zellforsch. 104, 517–529 (1970)
Fink, G., Smith, G.C.: Ultrastructural features of the developing hypothalamo-hypophysial axis in the rat. A correlative study. Z. Zellforsch. 119, 208–226 (1971)
Forsling, M.L.: In: Endocrine Factors and Labour, Memoirs Soc. Endocrinol. 20, p. 174 (A. Klopper and J. Gardner, eds.) London: Cambridge Univ. Press 1973
Graham, R.C., Karnovsky, M.J.: The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney; ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14, 291–302 (1966)
Heller, H., Lederis, K.: Maturation of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 147, 299–314 (1959)
LeClerc, R., Pelletier, G.: Ontogeny of neurophysin in the rat pituitary gland. An electron microscope immunohistochemical study. Brain Res. 129, 275–281 (1977)
Liggins, G.C.: Hormonal interactions in the mechanism of parturition. In: Endocrine Factors in Labour, Memoirs Soc. Endocrinol. 20, pp. 119–139 (A. Klopper and J. Gardner, eds.) London: Cambridge Univ. Press 1973
Mason, T.E., Phifer, R.F., Spicer, S.S., Swallow, R.A., Dreskin, R.B.: An immunoglobulin-enzyme bridge method for localising tissue antigens. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 17, 563–569 (1969)
Perks, A.M., Vizsolyi, E.: Studies of the neurohypophysis in foetal mammals. In: Foetal and Neonatal Physiology, Proc. Barcroft Symposium, pp. 430–438. (K.S. Comline, K.W. Cross, G.S. Dawes and P.W. Nathanielsz, eds.) London: Cambridge Univ. Press 1973
Rinne, U.K., Kivalo, E.: Maturation of hypothalamic neurosecretion in rat, with special reference to the neurosecretory material passing into the hypophysial portal system. Acta Neurovegetative 27, 166–183 (1964)
Silverman, A.J.: The hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system of the guinea pig. II. Immunohistochemical localisation of neurophysin and vasopressin in the fetus. Am. J. Anat. 144, 445–460 (1975)
Smith, C.S., Simpson, R.W.: Monoamine fluorescence in the median eminence of foetal, neonatal and adult rats. Z. Zellforsch. 104, 541–556 (1970)
Sternberger, L.A., Hardy, P.H., Cuculis, J.J., Meyer, H.G.: The unlabeled antibody enzyme method of immunohistochemistry. Preparation and properties of soluble antigen-antibody complex (horseradish peroxidase-antihorseradish peroxidase) and its use in identification of spirochetes. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 18, 315–333 (1970)
Swaab, D.F., Boer, K., Honnebier, W.J.: The influence of the fetal hypothalamus and pituitary on the onset and course of parturition. In: The Fetus and Birth. Ciba Foundation Symposium 47, pp. 379–393. Amsterdam: Elsevier North-Holland 1977
Swaab, D.F., Pool, C.W.: Specificity of oxytocin and vasopressin immunofluorescence. J. Endocr. 66, 263–272 (1975)
Watkins, W.B.: Immunohistochemical demonstration of neurophysin in the hypothalamoneurohypophysial system. Int. Rev. Cyto. 41, 241–284 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was financed by the Medical Research Council of New Zealand
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Choy, V.J., Watkins, W.B. Maturation of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Cell Tissue Res. 197, 325–336 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233923
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233923