This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ishunina, T. A. Articles by Swaab, D. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ishunina, T. A. Articles by Swaab, D. F.

Vasopressin and Oxytocin Neurons of the Human Supraoptic and Paraventricular Nucleus; Size Changes in Relation to Age and Sex

Netherlands Institute for Brain Research (T.A.I., D.F.S.), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and the Department of Histology and Embryology, Kursk State Medical University (T.A.I.), Kursk, Russia 305033

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Dr. D. F. Swaab, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: t.eikelboom{at}nih.knaw.nl

The hypothalamic supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei consist of arginine vasopressin (AVP)- and oxytocin (OT)-synthesizing neurons that send projections to the neurohypophysis, whereas the PVN also projects to other brain areas. A growing body of evidence in animals suggests the presence of sex differences in the vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic systems. The present study was aimed at determining whether the sizes of AVP and OT neurons in the human SON and PVN show sex differences, as earlier studies demonstrated that a change in neuronal size is a sensitive parameter for activity. The minimal and maximal diameters were determined to estimate the volumes of cell somata and cell nuclei in AVP and OT neurons stained with an antibody against human glycoprotein-(22–39), a part of the AVP precursor, and a monoclonal anti-OT antibody in 15 men and 17 women ranging in age from 29–94 yr. The AVP neurons appeared to be larger in young men than in young women (50 yr old). In elderly women (>50 yr old) AVP cell size considerably exceeded that in young women. In elderly men AVP neurons were larger than in young men and elderly women, although these differences were not significant. In addition, AVP cell size correlated positively with age in women but not in men. No significant differences were found in the AVP cell nucleus volumes among all four groups studied. Sex differences in the size of the PVN vasopressin neurons were pronounced at the left side (P = 0.048) and absent at the right side (P = 0.368), indicating the presence of functional lateralization in this nucleus. No difference was found in any morphometric parameter of OT neurons in the PVN among the 4 groups studied. Thus, our data demonstrate sex differences in the size of the AVP neurons, and thus in their function, that are age and probably also side dependent and the absence of such changes in OT neurons in the PVN. These data provide a basis for the reported higher AVP plasma levels in men compared to women.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Desai, D. Gayle, N. Kallichanda, and M. G. Ross Gender Specificity of Programmed Plasma Hypertonicity and Hemoconcentration in Adult Offspring of Water-Restricted Rat Dams Reproductive Sciences, September 1, 2005; 12(6): 409 - 415. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A.-M. Bao, A. Hestiantoro, E. J. W. Van Someren, D. F. Swaab, and J.-N. Zhou Colocalization of corticotropin-releasing hormone and oestrogen receptor-{alpha} in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in mood disorders Brain, June 1, 2005; 128(6): 1301 - 1313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Smith, L. Betancourt, and Y. Sun Molecular Endocrinology and Physiology of the Aging Central Nervous System Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2005; 26(2): 203 - 250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Hestiantoro and D. F. Swaab Changes in Estrogen Receptor-{alpha} and -{beta} in the Infundibular Nucleus of the Human Hypothalamus Are Related to the Occurrence of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2004; 89(4): 1912 - 1925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Vignozzi, S. Filippi, M. Luconi, A. Morelli, R. Mancina, M. Marini, G. B. Vannelli, S. Granchi, C. Orlando, S. Gelmini, et al. Oxytocin Receptor Is Expressed in the Penis and Mediates an Estrogen-Dependent Smooth Muscle Contractility Endocrinology, April 1, 2004; 145(4): 1823 - 1834. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. S. Stachenfeld and D. L. Keefe Estrogen effects on osmotic regulation of AVP and fluid balance Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, October 1, 2002; 283(4): E711 - E721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Ishunina, F. P. M. Kruijver, R. Balesar, and D. F. Swaab Differential Expression of Estrogen Receptor {alpha} and {beta} Immunoreactivity in the Human Supraoptic Nucleus in Relation to Sex and Aging J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2000; 85(9): 3283 - 3291. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. JAGLA, A. WIEDE, K. DIETZMANN, K. RUTKOWSKI, and W. HOFFMANN Co-localization of TFF3 peptide and oxytocin in the human hypothalamus FASEB J, June 1, 2000; 14(9): 1126 - 1131. [Abstract] [Full Text]