Oxytocin and Vasopressin Cross Talk Within the Brain Increases Blood Pressure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) orchestrates neuroendocrine and autonomic output to maintain systolic blood pressure (SBP). Emerging evidence suggests that the PVN utilizes paracrine signals to modulate neighboring neurons. Here, we test the hypothesis that OXT (oxytocin)-synthesizing neurons of the PVN (PVN^OXT) release paracrine signals that regulate SBP via modulation of AVP (arginine vasopressin)-synthesizing neurons of the PVN.

Methods

To test the hypothesis, experiments were conducted ex vivo and in vivo in mice with the expression of ChR2 (channelrhodopsin-2) and EYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) directed to cells synthesizing OXT.

Results

We found >90% of EYFP-neurons were immunolabeled for OXT, and blue ligh

SUBMITTER: Elsaafien K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12904227 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature