Publication | Closed Access
Circumventricular structures: CNS sensors of circulating peptides and autonomic control centres.
30
Citations
0
References
1990
Year
NeuropeptidesCns SensorsBiomedical EngineeringSocial SciencesAdrenal GlandSfo EfferentsNeuroendocrine MechanismHypothalamic PeptideCardiac MechanicHypothalamusNervous SystemEndocrinologyBioinstrumentationSubfornical OrganAp NeuronsCircumventricular StructuresNeurophysiologyNeuroanatomyPhysiologyAutonomic Control CentresNeuropeptide ReceptorElectrophysiologyCardiovascular PhysiologyCentral Nervous SystemNeuroscienceMedicineAnesthesiology
Previous studies have suggested the subfornical organ (SFO) to be the CNS site at which circulating angiotensin (ANG) acts to influence a variety of regulatory control mechanisms. We have utilised electrophysiological techniques: 1. to examine the neural connections through which the SFO exerts such control over hypothalamic regulatory control centres; 2. to investigate the responsiveness of neurons in a second circumventricular organ, the area postrema (AP), to circulating peptides. In accordance with previous endocrine studies we have demonstrated excitatory influences of SFO efferents on hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons putatively identified as vasopressin, oxytocin, CRH, and LHRH secreting. In addition systemic ANG increased the activity of the former three groups of these neurons, an effect which was abolished by destruction of the SFO. Single unit recordings from AP neurons have demonstrated subpopulations of cells in this regions to be sensitive to either circulating ANG or changes in blood pressure.