Skip to main content
Log in

Identification of serotonin- and vasopressin immunoreactivities in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of four mammalian species

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The distribution of serotonin- and vasopressin immunoreactivities in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of four mammalian species was studied with the use of the modified peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method and antisera to serotonin and vasopressin. In the SCN of the rat, hamster and cat, we noted a large number of serotoninimmunoreactive nerve fibers particularly in the ventral area, where these fibers containing small varicosities (less than 1μm in diameter) formed a dense plexus. In the monkey (Macaca fuscata), however, only few serotonin-containing fibers were evident throughout the SCN. Vasopressin-immunoreactive somata and fibers were distributed in large numbers in the SCN of the rat, hamster, cat and monkey, especially in the dorsal nuclear area.

Regional and species-related differences of serotonin- and vasopressin distribution in the SCN were elucidated; possible functional differences between the ventral and dorsal areas of the SCN are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aghajanian GK, Bloom FE, Sheard MH (1969) Electron microscopy of degeneration within the serotonin pathway of the rat brain. Brain Res 13:266–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Azmitia EC, Segal M (1978) An autoradiographic analysis of the different ascending projections of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei in the rat. J Comp Neurol 179:641–668

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobillier P, Seguin S, Petitgean F, Salvert D, Touret M, Jouvet M (1976) The raphe nuclei of the cat brain stem: a topographical atlas of their efferent projections as revealed by autoradiography. Brain Res 113:449–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Card JP, Moore RY (1982) Ventral lateral geniculate nucleus efferents to the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus exhibit avian pancreatic polypeptide-like immunoreactivity. J Comp Neurol 206:390–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Card JP, Brecha N, Karten HJ, Moore RY (1981) Immunocytochemical localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing cells and processes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat: light and electron microscopic analysis. J Neurosci 1:1289–1303

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung Y, Sladek JR (1975) Catecholamine distribution in feline hypothalamus. J Comp Neurol 164:339–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowchock FS, Carmel PW, Barrett RE (1974) The distribution of catecholamines in the hypothalamus of the cat. Neuroendocrinol 15:209–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller CA, Lydic R, Sulzman FM, Albers HE, Tepper B, Moore-Ede MC (1981) Circadian rhythm of body temperature persists after suprachiasmatic lesions in the squirrel monkey. Am J Physiol 241:R385-R391

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe K (1965) Evidence for the existence of monoamine neurons in the central nervous system. IV. Distribution of monoamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. Acta Physiol Scand 64, suppl 247:38–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrickson AE, Wagoner N, Cowan WM (1972) An autoradiographic and electron microscopic study of retino-hypothalamic connection. Z Zellforsch 135:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman GE, Felten DL, Sladek JR (1974) Monoamine distribution in primate brain III. Catecholamine-containing varicosities in the hypothalamus of Macaca mulatta. Am J Anat 147:501–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoorneman EMD, Buijs RM (1982) Vasopressin fiber pathways in the rat brain following suprachiasmatic nucleus lesioning. Brain Res 243:235–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Inouye S, Kawamura H (1979) Persistence of circadian rhythmicity in a mammalian hypothalamic “island” containing the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 76:5962–5966

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa M, Tanaka C (1977) Morphological organization of catecholamine terminals in the diencephalon of the rhesus monkey. Brain Res 119:43–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawata M (1983) Immunohistochemistry of the oxytocin and vasopressin neurons of the dog and rat under normal and experimental conditions In: Sano Y, Zimmerman EA, Ibata Y (eds) Structure and function of peptidergic and aminergic neurons. JSSP, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawata M, Sano Y (1982) Immunohistochemical identification of the oxytocin and vasopressin neurons in the hypothalamus of the monkey (Macaca fuscata). Anat Embryol 165:151–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawata M, Takeuchi Y, Ueda S, Matsuura T, Sano Y (1983) Immunohistochemical demonstration of serotonin nerve fibers in the hypothalamus including posterior lobe of the rat and monkey. Cell Tissue Res (in press)

  • Kojima M, Takeuchi Y, Goto M, Sano Y (1983) Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of serotonin containing cell bodies in the brainstem of the dog. Acta Anat 115:8–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Lydie R, Albers HE, Tepper B, Moore-Ede MC (1982) Three-dimensional structure of the mammalian suprachiasmatic nuclei: A comparative study of five species. J Comp Neurol 204:225–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY (1973) Retinohypothalamic projection in mammals: a comparative study. Brain Res 49:403–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY, Klein DC (1974) Visual pathways and the central neural control of a circadian rhythm in pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity. Brain Res 71:17–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY, Lenn NJ (1972) A retinohypothalamic projection in the rat. J Comp Neurol 146:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY, Halaris AE, Jones BE (1978) Serotonin neurons of the midbrain raphe: Ascending projections. J Comp Neurol 180:417–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY, Card JP, Riley JN (1980) The suprachiasmatic hypothalamic neurons: Neuronal ultrastructure. Soc Neurosci Abst 6:758

    Google Scholar 

  • Parent A, Descarries L, Beaudet A (1981) Organization of ascending serotonin systems in the adult rat brain. A radioautographic study after intraventricular administration of [3H] 5-hydroxytryptamine. Neuroscience 6:115–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Poitras D, Parent A (1975) A fluorescence microscopic study of the distribution of monoamines in the hypothalamus of the cat. J Morphol 145:387–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts GW, Woodhams PL, Bryant MG, Crow TJ, Bloom SR, Polak JM (1980) VIP in the rat brain: Evidence for a major pathway linking the amygdala and hypothalamus via the stria terminalis. Histochemistry 65:103–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Sims KB, Hoffman DL, Said SI, Zimmerman EA (1980) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in mouse and rat brain: an immunocytochemical study. Brain Res 186:165–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Sofroniew MV, Weindl A (1978) Projections from the parvocellular vasopressinand neurophysin-containing neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Am J Anat 153:391–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinbusch HWM (1981) Distribution of serotonin-immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the rat —cell bodies and terminals. Neuroscience 6:557–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi Y, Kimura H, Sano Y (1982a) Immunohistochemical demonstration of the identification of serotonin neurons in the brainstem of the rat and cat. Cell Tissue Res 224:247–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi Y, Kimura H, Matsuura T, Sano Y (1982b) Immunohistochemical demonstration of organization of serotonin neurons in the brain of the monkey (Macaca fuscata). Acta Anat 114:106–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Ungerstedt U (1971) Stereotaxic mapping of monoamine pathways in the rat brain. Acta Physiol Scand (Suppl) 367:1–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Den Pol AN (1980) The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat: Intrinsic anatomy. J Comp Neurol 191:661–702

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandesande F, Dierickx K, De Mey J (1975) Identification of vasopressin-neurophysin producing neurons of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. Cell Tissue Res 156:377–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman EA (1976) Localization of hypothalamic hormones by immunocytochemical techniques. In: Martini L, Ganong WF (eds) Frontiers in neuroendocrinology. Raven Press, New York, 4:25–62

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This work was supported by grants (No. 56440022, No. 57214028) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ueda, S., Kawata, M. & Sano, Y. Identification of serotonin- and vasopressin immunoreactivities in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of four mammalian species. Cell Tissue Res. 234, 237–248 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213766

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213766

Key words

Navigation