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Cytoplasmic oxytocin and vasopressin gene transcripts decline postpartum in the hypothalamus of the lactating rat

Crowley, RS and Insel, TR and O' Keefe, JA and Amico, JA (1993) Cytoplasmic oxytocin and vasopressin gene transcripts decline postpartum in the hypothalamus of the lactating rat. Endocrinology, 133 (6). 2704 - 2710. ISSN 0013-7227

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Abstract

Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) gene expression are enhanced in the rat hypothalamus in late gestation and during the second and third weeks of lactation. We report that during the first 3 postpartum days, OT and AVP cytoplasmic mRNAs in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of lactating rats decreased dramatically, reaching less than one fifth of peak gestational levels by day 2 postpartum. Differences in the temporal pattern of OT and AVP expression were observed in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei from days 4-10 of lactation. We also compared OT and AVP cytoplasmic mRNAs isolated from the hypothalamus of day 3 lactating rats to cohorts that had litters removed at the time of parturition. Lactating rats had significantly lower OT and AVP cytoplasmic mRNA levels than their nonlactating cohorts. We further compared OT and AVP cytoplasmic mRNAs in the hypothalamus of day 12 lactating rats that had been ovariectomized or sham ovariectomized on day 3 of lactation. Ovariectomized day 12 lactating animals had significantly lower OT and AVP cytoplasmic mRNA levels than their intact cohorts. These data refute the hypothesis that lactation is characterized by persistently elevated hypothalamic cytoplasmic OT and AVP mRNAs produced as a result of continuous stimulation by suckling and suggest that ovarian steroids may exert a modulatory effect on hypothalamic OT and AVP expression during early lactation. © 1993 by The Endocrine Society.

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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Crowley, RS
Insel, TR
O' Keefe, JA
Amico, JA
Date: 1 January 1993
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Endocrinology
Volume: 133
Number: 6
Page Range: 2704 - 2710
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1210/endo.133.6.7612074
Schools and Programs: School of Medicine > Biomedical Informatics
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 0013-7227
MeSH Headings: Animals; Arginine Vasopressin--genetics; Arginine Vasopressin--metabolism; Cytoplasm--metabolism; Female; Hypothalamus--metabolism; In Situ Hybridization; Lactation--metabolism; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Oxytocin--genetics; Oxytocin--metabolism; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus--metabolism; Postpartum Period--metabolism; RNA, Messenger--metabolism; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Supraoptic Nucleus--metabolism
PubMed ID: 7612074
Date Deposited: 29 Aug 2012 20:20
Last Modified: 02 Feb 2019 14:55
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/13773

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