Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Dev Cell. 2011 Oct 18;21(4):642-54. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.09.004.
The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS) is the neurovascular structure through which the hypothalamic neuropeptides oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin exit the brain into the bloodstream, where they go on to affect peripheral physiology. Here, we investigate the molecular cues that regulate the neurovascular contact between hypothalamic axons and neurohypophyseal capillaries of the zebrafish. We developed a transgenic system in which both hypothalamic axons and neurohypophyseal vasculature can be analyzed in vivo. We identified the cellular organization of the zebrafish HNS as well as the dynamic processes that contribute to formation of the HNS neurovascular interface. We show that formation of this interface is regulated during development by local release of oxytocin, which affects endothelial morphogenesis. This cell communication process is essential for the establishment of a tight axovasal interface between the neurons and blood vessels of the HNS. We present a unique example of axons affecting endothelial morphogenesis through secretion of a neuropeptide.
下丘脑-神经垂体系统（HNS）是神经血管结构，通过该结构，下丘脑神经肽催产素和精氨酸血管加压素从大脑进入血液，在血液中继续影响外周生理学。在这里，我们研究了调节下丘脑轴突和斑马鱼神经垂体毛细血管之间神经血管接触的分子线索。我们开发了一种转基因系统，其中可以在体内分析下丘脑轴突和神经垂体脉管系统。我们确定了斑马鱼 HNS 的细胞组织以及有助于形成 HNS 神经血管界面的动态过程。我们表明，这种界面的形成是由催产素的局部释放在发育过程中调节的，催产素会影响内皮细胞形态发生。这种细胞通讯过程对于神经元和 HNS 血管之间紧密的轴突血管界面的建立至关重要。我们提出了一个通过分泌神经肽来影响内皮细胞形态发生的独特的轴突范例。
