Willoughby J O, Blessing W W
Neurosci Lett. 1987 Mar 20;75(1):17-22. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(87)90068-1.
Injection of neuropeptide Y (NPY, 0.01-1.0 nmol in 0.25 microliter vehicle) into the supraoptic nucleus of unanesthetized rats increased plasma vasopressin, measured by radioimmunoassay, to a maximum of 90 +/- 18 ng/liter. Injections of vehicle or somatostatin did not increase plasma vasopressin, nor did injections of NPY into the amygdala. Double-labelling immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that fibers containing NPY-like immunoreactivity form a close association with vasopressin immunoreactive perikarya in the supraoptic nucleus. It appears that NPY may directly excite vasopressin-containing neurons causing secretion of vasopressin.
