Wahlestedt C, Skagerberg G, Ekman R, Heilig M, Sundler F, Håkanson R
Brain Res. 1987 Aug 4;417(1):33-8. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(87)90176-4.
Immunocytochemical studies have documented the presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) which harbours a large number of neurones that contain corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). In this study the close morphological association between NPY fibres and CRF cell bodies in the PVN was confirmed. The localization of NPY terminals in the vicinity of CRF neurones forms a morphological basis for an action of NPY in the hypothalamic control of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis. We therefore microinjected NPY into the area of the PVN of both conscious, freely moving and anaesthetized rats and noted a powerful stimulatory effect on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone release as measured by radioimmunoassay. In experiments with conscious, freely moving rats, higher ACTH and corticosterone levels were detected following injection of NPY into the area of the PVN than following control injection (desamidated NPY). Intracerebroventricular injection of NPY produced a small, albeit significant, increase in circulating corticosterone levels as compared to control (saline-injected) rats. Anaesthetized rats responded to NPY (but not to saline) injected into the area of the PVN with elevated ACTH and corticosterone levels, while injection of NPY into the neocortex failed to affect the blood concentration of either ACTH or corticosterone. In conclusion, we have demonstrated an activating effect of NPY on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis both in conscious and anaesthetized rats which may reflect the anatomical relationship between NPY fibres and CRF neurones in the PVN.
免疫细胞化学研究已证明下丘脑室旁核（PVN）中存在神经肽Y（NPY），该核含有大量含有促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）的神经元。在本研究中，PVN中NPY纤维与CRF细胞体之间紧密的形态学关联得到了证实。NPY终末在CRF神经元附近的定位为NPY在下丘脑对垂体 - 肾上腺皮质轴的控制作用提供了形态学基础。因此，我们将NPY微量注射到清醒、自由活动和麻醉大鼠的PVN区域，并通过放射免疫测定法发现对促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）和皮质酮释放有强大的刺激作用。在对清醒、自由活动大鼠的实验中，将NPY注射到PVN区域后检测到的ACTH和皮质酮水平高于对照注射（脱酰胺化NPY）后的水平。与对照（注射生理盐水）大鼠相比，脑室内注射NPY使循环皮质酮水平虽小但显著升高。麻醉大鼠对注射到PVN区域的NPY（而非生理盐水）有ACTH和皮质酮水平升高的反应，而将NPY注射到新皮层未能影响ACTH或皮质酮的血浓度。总之，我们已证明NPY在清醒和麻醉大鼠中对垂体 - 肾上腺皮质轴均有激活作用，这可能反映了PVN中NPY纤维与CRF神经元之间的解剖学关系。
