Distribution of vitamin D binding protein expressing neurons in the rat hypothalamus

We observed immunostaining for vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in rat hypothalamus. Part of the supraoptic and of the paraventricular neurons showed DBP immunoreactivity, in part colocalized with Arg-vasopressin. DBP was also observed in widespread axonal projections throughout the lateral hypothala...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Histochemistry and cell biology 2009-03, Vol.131 (3), p.365-370
Main Authors: Jirikowski, Gustav F, Kauntzer, Ulrike W, Dief, Abeer El Emmam, Caldwell, Jack D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Brain
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Hypothalamus - chemistry
Hypothalamus - cytology
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Neurons
Neurons - chemistry
Original Paper
Proteins
Rats
RNA, Messenger - analysis
Rodents
Tissue Distribution
Vitamin D
Vitamin D-Binding Protein - analysis
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Summary:We observed immunostaining for vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in rat hypothalamus. Part of the supraoptic and of the paraventricular neurons showed DBP immunoreactivity, in part colocalized with Arg-vasopressin. DBP was also observed in widespread axonal projections throughout the lateral hypothalamus, the median eminence and the posterior pituitary lobe. A portion of ependymal cells, the choroids plexus epithelium and some of the endocrine cells in the anterior pituitary lobe contained DBP immunoreactivity. In situ hybridization of semithin sections with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe to DBP mRNA resulted in staining of magnocellular hypothalamic neurons, but not of ependymal cells or anterior lobe cells. Our observations indicate an intrinsic expression of DBP in the rat hypothalamus. DBP may be synthesized and transported along with the classical neurohypophyseal hormones. The multiple locations of DBP-expressing neurons indicate multiple functional properties: DBP may be released from in the posterior lobe, it may act as a hypophyseotropic factor and as a central neuroactive substance.
ISSN:0948-6143
1432-119X
DOI:10.1007/s00418-008-0540-6