Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Evidence for the Synthesis of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Separate Neurons

Abstract

ALTHOUGH it is now generally accepted that in mammals the hormones of the posterior pituitary, vasopressin and oxytocin, are synthesized in the hypothalamus in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei1, two important and related questions about the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) remain unanswered. These are: (a) whether vasopressin is synthesized exclusively in the SON while oxytocin is synthesized only in the PVN2–4; and (b) whether there is one population of neurons in the hypothalamic nuclei which produces only vasopressin and another population which produces only oxytocin, or whether single neurons in the HNS can synthesize both these hormones5–7. The results reported here suggest an answer to the second question.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Scharrer, E., and Scharrer, B., Rec. Prog. Hormone Res., 10, 183 (1954).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Olivecrona, H., Acta Physiol. Scand., 40, suppl. 136 (1957).

  3. Lederis, K., in Neurosecretion (edit. by Heller, H., and Clark, R. B.), Mem. Soc. Endocrinol., No. 12, 227 (Academic Press, New York, 1962).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bisset, G. W., Hilton, S. M., and Poisner, A. M., J. Physiol., 169, 40P (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pickford, M., in Polypeptides Which Affect Smooth Muscles and Blood Vessels (edit. by Schachter, M.), 42 (Pergamon Press, London, 1960).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Heller, H., in Oxytocin (edit. by Caldeyro-Barcia, R., and Heller, H.), 3 (Pergamon Press, London, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gaitan, E., Cobo, E., and Mizrachi, M., J. Clin. Invest., 43, 2310 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Valtin, H., and Schroeder, H. A., Amer. J. Physiol., 206, 425 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cameron, M. L., and Steele, J. E., Stain Technol., 34, 265 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sokol, H. W., and Valtin, H., Endocrinology, 77, 692 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Valtin, H., Sawyer, W. H., and Sokol, H. W., Endocrinology, 77, 701 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. LaBella, F. S., Beaulieu, G., and Reiffenstein, R. J., Nature, 193, 173 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Barer, R., Heller, H., and Lederis, K., Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), B, 158, 388 (1963).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lederis, K., Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 4, 638 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Howe, A., in Neurosecretion (edit. by Heller, H., and Clark, R. B.), Mem. Soc. Endocrinol., No. 12, 241 (Academic Press, New York, 1962).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SOKOL, H., VALTIN, H. Evidence for the Synthesis of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Separate Neurons. Nature 214, 314–316 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/214314a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/214314a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing