Synaptic associations between oxytocin-containing magnocellular neurons and neurons containing corticotropin-releasing factor in the rat magnocellular paraventricular nucleus.

In the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the rat hypothalamus, we determined synaptic associations between oxytocin (OXT)-containing magnocellular neurons and parvocellular neurons containing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) by using a double immunolabeling technique in 7 animals. In single vibratome sections of the hypothalamus, immunoreactive CRF and OXT were labeled with silver-gold particles and diaminobenzidine (DAB) chromogen, respectively. By light microscopy CRF-containing fibers appeared to be black dots, some of which encircled magnocellular perikarya labeled with brown DAB chromogen in the PVN. By electron microscopy we discriminated OXT neurons having fine DAB-chromogen particles distributed throughout the cytoplasm and on large secretory granules from CRF neurons having dense coarse particles of silver-gold. Occasional CRF axons terminated on perikarya or dendritic processes of OXT neurons, making synaptic contacts. The terminals which were characterized by having clusters of small clear vesicles and a few dense core vesicles showed equal thickenings of pre- and postsynaptic membranes at the synaptic junctions.