Ablation of the hypothalamic arcuate-median eminence region reduces the concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the anterior pituitary gland of male rats.

Ablation of the hypothalamic arcuate-median eminence region reduces the concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the anterior pituitary gland of male rats.

Carrillo A J; Dluzen D E

Brain research

1993

1993-06

This study was designed to determine the influence of the hypothalamus on the content of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the anterior pituitary. Disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary connection was performed by ablating the arcuate-median eminence (ARC-ME) region in adult male rats. Fifteen days later, there was a significant reduction in pituitary mass, adrenal and testicular weight and an increase in water consumption and serum prolactin levels indicating the elimination of hypothalamic influence on the pituitary gland in the ARC-ME group when compared to controls. Anterior pituitary VIP content was also significantly reduced in the lesion group. These data suggest that the hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of pituitary VIP.

Adrenal Glands/anatomy & histology; Animals; Anterior/*physiology; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/*physiology; Drinking Behavior; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/*physiology; Male; Median Eminence/*physiology; Organ Size; Pituitary Gland; Pituitary Gland/anatomy & histology; Prolactin/blood/metabolism; Rats; Sprague-Dawley; Testis/anatomy & histology; Time Factors; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/*metabolism

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