Analysis of spontaneous synaptic currents in supraoptic neuroendocrine cells of the rat hypothalamus by Patch clamp (CAT#: STEM-PET-0068-WXH)

Introduction

Magnocellular neuroendocrine cells of the supraoptic nucleus have long been considered as a model system for a wide range of studies on neurosecretion. These neuroendocrine cells synthesize the neuropeptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin and transport them, from their cell bodies in the supraoptic and
paraventricular nuclei, along their axons to the neurohypophysis where they are secreted directly in the general circulation. The supraoptic nucleus has particular advantages for electrophysiological studies on neuroendocrine cells because, unlike other hypothalamic nuclei, virtually all of these cells project to the neurohyphophysis and are therefore neuroendocrine. Numerous substances (e.g., ACh, norepinephrine, opioid peptides, dopamine, histamine, 5-HT, substance P, vasopressin, oxytocin, cholecystokinin, somatostatin) have been proposed to regulate or modulate hypothalamic neurosecretion.