Vasopressinergic neurons of the supraoptic nucleus in perinatal rats: reaction to osmotic stimulation and its regulation.

Osmotic stimulation (OS) of vasopressin (VP) neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) promotes VP secretion and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in adult mammals. VP secretion is under a noradrenaline control, whereas the regulation of TH expression remains uncertain. This study was aimed to determine at what period of ontogenesis: (1) VP neurons begin to react to OS by modifying simultaneously VP and TH gene expression and synthesis, (2) the noradrenergic control of VP neurons is established. Rats on the 21st embryonic day (E), third postnatal day (P), P13 were salt loaded or salt loaded and treated with an antagonist (prazosin) or agonist (phenylephrine) of α1-adrenoreceptors. According to our immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization data, OS resulted in an increased amount of VP mRNA in each age group and of VP on E21 and P3. TH gene and synthesis was initially expressed under OS on P3. The number of TH-expressing neurons diminished by threefold in salt loaded rats from P3 to P13. OS combined with prazosin administration resulted in an increased level of VP mRNA on P3 and P13, but not on E21 suggesting the onset of the noradrenaline inhibitory control after birth. OS together with prazosin treatment stimulated TH expression on P3 and P13, whereas phenylephrine provided an opposite effect. Thus, VP neurons begin to react to OS by an increased VP synthesis at the end of fetal life and by the onset of TH expression shortly after birth; the expression of both substances appears to be under the inhibitory control of noradrenaline.