Activation of vasopressin neurons in the human supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus in senescence and senile dementia

J E Hoogendijk, E Fliers, D F Swaab, R W Verwer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

A recent study has shown that vasopressin (AVP) cells in the human supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei increase in size after 60 years of age, suggesting that AVP production is increased in senescence. In the present study, the same brain material was used for the determination of nucleolar size in immunocytochemically identified AVP and oxytocin (OXT) neurons as an additional parameter for peptide production. A strong correlation was found between nucleolar size and cell size, both in AVP and OXT neurons. Nucleolar size of AVP but not of OXT neurons increased significantly in senescence. Observations in brains from patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) were commensurate with their ages. These results strongly support the hypothesis that AVP neurons in the SON and PVN are activated in old age.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)291-9
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume69
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1985

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging
  • Arginine Vasopressin
  • Cell Nucleolus
  • Child
  • Dementia
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxytocin
  • Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus
  • Supraoptic Nucleus
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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