Hypothalamic accessory nuclei and their relation to the angiotensinergic and vasopressinergic systems

Abstract

The existence and colocalization of angiotensin II- and vasopressin-like immunoreactivity in individual magnocellular cell groups of the hypothalamus has been demonstrated by using immunocytochemical methods. These neurosecretory magnocellular groups consist of the paraventricular nucleus and the supraoptic nucleus, as well as different accessory cell groups. The fibers from the neurons of the accessory nuclei project directly to adjacent blood vessels and do not comigrate with the hypothalamo–neurohypophysial fiber pathway. On the basis of these findings it can be concluded that in the hypothalamus two different angiotensinergic and vasopressinergic neurosecretory systems exist: (1) an intrinsic hypothalamic and (2) a hypothalamo–neurohypophysial system. The distribution of the accessory cell groups in the hypothalamus is shown in a 3D reconstruction which includes the connection of these magnocellular nuclei with the vascular system in this area.