Intraventricular 2-deoxy- d-glucose induces Fos expression by hypothalamic vasopressin, but not oxytocin neurons

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The glucostatic theory supports the role of central and peripheral substrate “sensors” in monitoring cellular glucose metabolism. Induction of hyperphagia and hyperglycemia by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) delivery of drugs inhibiting glucose uptake or oxidation suggests that glucose “sensors” are accessible from the cerebroventricular system. Although glucopenia elevates neurohypophyseal vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OXY) secretion and induces c- fos expression by hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) neurons, the origin of glucoprivic regulatory signals impinging upon these cell populations is unclear. The following study evaluated immunolabeling of hypothalamic VP and OXY neurons for the nuclear transcription factor, Fos, following systemic vs. i.c.v. delivery of the glucose antimetabolite, 2-deoxy- d-glucose (2DG). Intraperitoneal drug treatment resulted in Fos expression by a high proportion of AVP- and OXY-ir neurons in the PVN and SON, whereas i.c.v. antimetabolite administration resulted in immunostaining of a smaller proportion of AVP neurons and a lack of colabeling of OXY neurons in both sites. These results suggest that decreased glucose metabolism within the periventricular CNS is a stimulus for central mechanisms that activate the Fos stimulus-transcription cascade in a discrete subpopulation of VP neurons in the PVN and SON. Alternatively, the absence of demonstrable Fos expression by OXY neurons in the same structures suggests that the functional status of these cells is regulated by glucoprivic stimuli of peripheral and/or nonperiventricular central origin.