In situ hybridization for vasopressin mRNA in the human supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus; quantitative aspects of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections as compared to cryostat sections.

In order to study the suitability of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue for vasopressin (AVP)-mRNA detection, we used symmetric halves of 5 human hypothalami. In every case, one half was formalin fixed for 10-35 days and paraffin embedded while the other half was frozen rapidly. Following in situ hybridization (ISH) histochemistry on systematically obtained sections of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of both halves, total amounts of AVP-mRNA in these nuclei were estimated using densitometry of film autoradiographs.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus of patients with Alzheimer's disease and depression.

Objective: Greater activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is associated with specific neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and depression. Hyperactivation of paraventricular corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons may form the basis of this increased activity of the HPA axis.

Method: Activation of the CRH neurons was determined through measurement of the amount of CRH-mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus by using quantitative, in situ hybridization histochemistry with systematically sampled frontal sections through the hypothalamus of routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded autopsy brain material of 10 comparison subjects, 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease, and seven depressed patients.

Increased number of corticotropin-releasing hormone expressing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Observations in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis (MS), have indicated that a low activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system is accompanied by a high susceptibility for EAE in rat strains and that elevated corticosteroid levels are necessary for spontaneous recovery from EAE. The HPA axis activity is regulated by both corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Both types of neurons are localized in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus.

In situ hybridization for vasopressin mRNA in the human supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus; quantitative aspects of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections as compared to cryostat sections.

In order to study the suitability of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue for vasopressin (AVP)-mRNA detection, we used symmetric halves of 5 human hypothalami. In every case, one half was formalin fixed for 10-35 days and paraffin embedded while the other half was frozen rapidly. Following in situ hybridization (ISH) histochemistry on systematically obtained sections of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of both halves, total amounts of AVP-mRNA in these nuclei were estimated using densitometry of film autoradiographs.

Increased cortisol levels in aging and Alzheimer's disease in postmortem cerebrospinal fluid.

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated during aging and even more so in dementia. Increased levels of corticosteroids may be neurotoxic. Therefore we have investigated cortisol levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer patients and controls.