Characterization of Estrogen-Concentrating Hypothalamic Neurons by Their Axonal Projections

Morrell, J. I.; Pfaff, D. W.

doi:10.1126/science.7112131

Cited by 131 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The efferent projections of the VLH were very similar to those previously described for this area in guinea pigs [24, 25]and for the potentially analogous VMHVL of rats [22, 23, 41, 42, 43, 44]. In contrast to previous studies, we combined anterograde tract tracing and steroid hormone receptor immunocytochemistry in order to carefully delineate the overlap of terminals of neurons in the estrogen receptor- rich area of the VLH with estrogen receptor-containing cells in other regions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Projections of the Estrogen Receptor-Immunoreactive Ventrolateral Hypothalamus to Other EstrogenReceptor-Immunoreactive Sites in Female Guinea Pig Brain

Turcotte

Blaustein

1999

Neuroendocrinology

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The ventrolateral hypothalamus in female guinea pigs includes an estrogen receptor dense region adjacent to the ventromedial hypothalamus. This region is reciprocally connected with other estrogen receptor-containing areas suggesting that steroid hormone receptor-containing cells may be directly linked. Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin, an anterograde tract tracer, was specifically placed in this region with the aim of labeling some projections from estrogen receptor-containing neurons. These projections were colocalized immunocytochemically with the distribution of estrogen receptor-containing cells. Dense ventrolateral hypothalamic innervation was observed in some regions also containing a high concentration of estrogen receptor-containing cells. These regions included the medial preoptic area, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the ventrolateral hypothalamus anterior and posterior to the injection site, and the midbrain central gray. A low density of ventrolateral hypothalamic fibers and terminals was observed in two regions rich in estrogen receptors, the amygdala and the arcuate nucleus. In general, ventrolateral hypothalamic fibers and terminals were present in all regions where estrogen receptors were found except the medial thalamus and habenular region. Labeled terminal boutons and perineuronal baskets were found around estrogen receptor-containing cells in most regions which contained estrogen receptor-containing cells. These close appositions were suggestive of synaptic contacts, suggesting that the ventrolateral hypothalamus may influence steroid-dependent behaviors via the modulation of estrogen receptor-containing cells. Furthermore, ventrolateral hypothalamic projections may include direct connections with estrogen receptor-containing cells, suggesting the presence of a network of interconnected estradiol-sensitive neurons involved in the regulation of estradiol-dependent functions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Projections of the Estrogen Receptor-Immunoreactive Ventrolateral Hypothalamus to Other EstrogenReceptor-Immunoreactive Sites in Female Guinea Pig Brain

Turcotte

Blaustein

1999

Neuroendocrinology

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“…45), the ER-immunoreactivc neurons of the intact guinea-pig may contain substantially more ribboned rough endoplasmic reticulum than viewed here in our ovariectomized animals. The overall appearance of the larger ER-containing neurons is that of a motor neuron (long projection) and this morphology correlates well with their known projection to the central grey (26,27). It should be noted, however, that not all neurons in the VL that meet these cytological criteria contained detectable ER in our thin sections.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Many ER-containing neurons from this region project to the midbrain central grey (26) and have a potential role in mediating lordosis behavior. The presence of numerous synaptic inputs on to the cell body and proximal dendrites suggests that they can integrate other (non-hormonal) information, presumably of importance in coordinating reproductive events.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructural Characteristics of Estrogen Receptor‐Containing Neurons of the Ventrolateral Nucleus of the Guinea‐Pig Hypothalamus

Silverman

DonCarlos

Morrell

1991

J Neuroendocrinology

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The ventrolateral nucleus of the hypothalamus (VL) of the guinea-pig is a key cell group in the neural circuitry underlying the estrogen-dependent lordosis reflex. The extent to which neurons in the VL are responsive to estrogen or to synaptic inputs depends in part on the presence of specific estrogen and neurotransmitter receptors within the target cells. It also depends on the number, type and location of synaptic inputs. In addition, both sensitivity to circulating hormones and transmitter responsiveness show estrogen-inducible alterations in the VL. To understand more about the cell types that are directly modulated by estrogens via the nuclear steroid binding protein and the synaptic connectivity of these neurons, we have carried out an ultrastructural study of estrogen receptor-containing cells in the VL of the female guinea-pig.Estrogen receptor was localized for both light and electron microscopy using a specific monoclonal antibody, H-222, directed against the human estrogen receptor. Numerous immunoreactive neurons were found in the VL. These cells had simple, relatively smooth dendritic processes that were generally unbranched. Reaction product was most intense in the nucleus; lighter deposits were seen in some but not all somata and proximal dendrites. No cell was observed with only cytoplasmic staining. At the ultrastructural level, this distribution of reaction product within cells was confirmed. Gold deposits were associated with euchromatin and excluded from the nucleolus, nucleolar-associated heterochromatin and Barr body. In the cytoplasm, the small aggregates of gold particles were randomly distributed. Two types of cytologically distinct immunoreactive neurons were characterized. The most numerous category was of large cells with extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum, frequently organized as whorls or ribbons, Several stacks of Golgi cisterna, numerous mitochondria and multivesicular bodies. A smaller population, representing approximately 5% of the total, was of much smaller cells which had only a thin rim of cytoplasm around the nucleus, scattered elements Of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and a single small Golgi saccule. Based on size, we suggest that the larger neurons are Projection neurons and that the smaller ones form local circuits. The larger cells received a dense axo-somatic and axo-dendritic innervation. Most of the presynaptic terminals contained small, clear round vesicles; synaptic densities on either pre-or postsynaptic side were absent though a well defined synaptic cleft was evident. Very few synapses were found on the small cells even when serial sections were examined. It is clear that the larger, estrogen receptor-containing neurons are in a position to integrate both hormonal and neuronal signals and to transmit this information to other regions of the central nervous system involved in the outflow of reproductive behaviors.The cnordination of physiology and behavior essential to SUCessful reproduction requires the molecular interaction of gonadal sterolcis a...

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“…The ventrolateral portion of the 218 OESTROGEN-SENSITI VE NEURONES nucleus concentrates more oestradiol than the dorsomedial portion (Pfaff & Keiner, 1973). Some of the oestradiol-concentrating cells in this region project to the dorsal mid-brain (Morrell & Pfaff, 1982). Electrical stimulation of preoptic-anterior hypothalamic areas stimulates v.m.n.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Projections of oestrogen‐sensitive neurones from the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus of the female rat.

Akaishi¹,

Sakuma²

1986

The Journal of Physiology

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SUMMARY1. Stimulation of the mesencephalic central grey matter caused antidromic activation of 199 neurones in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus of forty-six urethane-anaesthetized female rats, of which twenty-two (ten ovariectomized and twelve ovariectomized and oestrogen treated) had the lateral projection of the nucleus disrupted by a small parasagittal knife-cut. The remaining twenty-four rats (ten ovariectomized and fourteen ovariectomized and oestrogen treated) had a cut in the frontal plane to interrupt caudal projection of the nucleus.2. In eight animals with the lateral knife-cut, eighteen cells were antidromically activated from the central grey matter as well as from the dorsal longitudinal fascicle. Collision between the potentials activated from these two sites revealed that seventeen of them descended to the central grey matter by way of the periventricular system, one cell having a bifurcated axon to these sites. Likewise, eleven cells in another group of eight animals with the posterior cut were found to project to the central grey matter via the perifornical region.3. Pre-treatment with oestrogen significantly lowered the activation thresholds and absolute refractory periods of neurones antidromically stimulated from the central grey in ovariectomized animals bearing posterior but not lateral knife-cuts.4. These results suggest that the ventromedial hypothalamic neurones responsible for oestrogen-dependent autonomic and behavioural functions project to the central grey via a lateral rather than a posterior pathway.

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Characterization of Estrogen-Concentrating Hypothalamic Neurons by Their Axonal Projections

Cited by 131 publications

References 17 publications

Projections of the Estrogen Receptor-Immunoreactive Ventrolateral Hypothalamus to Other EstrogenReceptor-Immunoreactive Sites in Female Guinea Pig Brain

Projections of the Estrogen Receptor-Immunoreactive Ventrolateral Hypothalamus to Other EstrogenReceptor-Immunoreactive Sites in Female Guinea Pig Brain

Ultrastructural Characteristics of Estrogen Receptor‐Containing Neurons of the Ventrolateral Nucleus of the Guinea‐Pig Hypothalamus

Projections of oestrogen‐sensitive neurones from the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus of the female rat.

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