Vasopressin neuron is the target of monoclonal antibodies raised against vasopressin-neurophysin injected in vivo.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against the neurophysin (NP) specifically synthesized with vasopressin (VP, VP-NP) were injected into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat hypothalamus. Their fate was studied by immunocytochemistry from 1 min to 3 h after the end of injection. It could be demonstrated that the VP-NP MAbs penetrated in vivo into some magnocellular neurons of the injected PVN and were transported ipsi- and contralaterally in individual neurons and in accessory magnocellular groups.

Simultaneous immunogold labeling of GABAergic terminals and vasopressin-containing neurons in the rat paraventricular nucleus.

The GABAergic innervation of vasopressin-containing cells in the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus was studied at the electron-microscope level using antibodies against GABA and vasopressin. The detection of both GABA and vasopressin on the same ultrathin section, performed with a double-labeling immunogold method, revealed GABAergic terminals in symmetrical synaptic contact with vasopressin-containing neurons. These GABAergic terminals displayed mitochondria, clear synaptic vesicles and varying numbers of electron-dense vesicles.

Monoclonal anti-vasopressin (VP) antibodies penetrate into VP neurons, in vivo.

The fate of monoclonal anti-vasopressin antibodies (VP-MAbs) injected in vivo into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat brain was studied by immunocytochemistry. Depending on the post survival time, VP-MAbs contained in an ascites fluid were stained at different levels of the VP neurons: the cytoplasm of the PVN neurons, the fibres of the median eminence and the granular layer of the Gyrus Dentatus. The identification of endogenous peptides synthesized by PVN neurons showed that the VP-MAbs uptake was specific: it did not appear either in the oxytocinergic neurons or in the non immunoreactive neurons of the Brattleboro rat brain, this rat being genetically incapable of synthesizing central VP.

Comparison of three immunoassays in the screening and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against arginine-vasopressin.

A method for screening monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) to neuropeptides was evaluated using 8-arginine-vasopressin (AVP) as a model. Mice were immunized with AVP-thyroglobulin conjugate and their spleen cells were fused with X 63-Ag8.653 mouse myeloma cells.

Intranigral methionine sulfoximine induces turning behaviour in the rat.

Unilateral infusion of methionine sulfoximine (MSO) into the substantia nigra of the rat induced contralateral rotations appearing progressively after a delay of about 100 min. The rotations were maximally antagonized by picrotoxin and bicuculline intraperitoneally injected at approximately 50-80 min after the intranigral infusion of MSO. Contraversive turning behaviour was absent after intranigral infusion of MSO in unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats.