The increased release of oxytocin during lactation has been shown to be dependent upon glutamatergic transmission and is associated with an increased synaptic innervation of the supraoptic nucleus (SON). To determine whether the glutamatergic synaptic properties of oxytocin neurones are changed during lactation, we recorded excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) from identified oxytocin neurones in the SON of slices taken from adult virgin and lactating rats. The frequency of AMPA-mediated miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) more than doubled during lactation. In addition, the decay time constant, but not the amplitude of the mEPSCs was significantly increased in both vasopressin and oxytocin neurones. Paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) was significantly reduced in oxytocin neurones during lactation, whereas no change was observed in vasopressin neurones. Elevating Ca(2+) reduced PPF in oxytocin neurones in virgin rats but did not alter PPF in oxytocin neurones from lactating rats. Collectively, our results suggest that excitatory glutamatergic transmission is strengthened in oxytocin neurones during lactation, probably by a combination of an increased number of terminals, slower decay kinetics, and an increase in the probability of release.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2269998 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-1-00109.x | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Modulation of respiration and hypothalamus.
Vitam Horm
January 2025
Clinical Research Center, Murayama Medical Center, Musashimurayama, Japan.
The hypothalamus is the gray matter of the ventral portion of the diencephalon. The hypothalamus is the higher center of the autonomic nervous system and is involved in the regulation of various homeostatic mechanisms. It also modulates respiration by facilitating the respiratory network.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeural Plasticity in Migraine Chronification.
Eur J Neurosci
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Mazovian Academy in Plock, Plock, Poland.
Chronic migraine (CM) is the ultimate and most burdensome form of the transformation from episodic migraine (EM), called chronification. The mechanism behind migraine chronification is poorly known and difficult to explore as CM has the same spectrum of pathogenesis as EM and the EM-CM transition is bidirectional. Central sensitization (CS) is a key phenomenon in migraine: its mechanisms include disturbed neural plasticity, which is the ability of the nervous system to adapt to endo- and exogenous changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCombination of rTMS and oxytocin agonist attenuate depression-like behavior after postpartum depression in mice.
Brain Res
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedics of Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Children's Health, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) categorizes postpartum depression (PPD) as a subtype of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with peripartum onset, generally arising within the initial trimester following delivery. This acute psychiatric condition is characterized by feelings of worthlessness, insomnia, extreme anxiety, or maternal neglect. Intranasal oxytocin (OT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have the potential to address impaired social cognition; nonetheless, their neuronal underpinnings, along with their safety and efficacy, are little comprehended.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMechanosensation of the heart and gut elicits hypometabolism and vigilance in mice.
Nat Metab
January 2025
Neuroscience Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Interoception broadly refers to awareness of one's internal milieu. Although the importance of the body-to-brain communication that underlies interoception is implicit, the vagal afferent signalling and corresponding brain circuits that shape perception of the viscera are not entirely clear. Here, we use mice to parse neural circuits subserving interoception of the heart and gut.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxytocin and neuroscience of lactation: Insights from the molecular genetic approach.
Neurosci Res
January 2025
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 2-2-3 Minatojima Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan. Electronic address:
In mammals, lactation is essential for the health and growth of infants and supports the formation of the mother-infant bond. Breastfeeding is mediated by the neurohormone oxytocin (OT), which is released into the bloodstream in a pulsatile manner from OT neurons in the hypothalamus to promote milk ejection into mammary ducts. While classical studies using anesthetized rats have illuminated the activity patterns of putative OT neurons during breastfeeding, the molecular, cellular, and neural circuit mechanisms driving the synchronous pulsatile bursts of OT neurons in response to nipple stimulation remain largely elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!