Journal of chemical neuroanatomy
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J. Chem. Neuroanat. · Jul 2012
VGF peptides upon osmotic stimuli: changes in neuroendocrine regulatory peptides 1 and 2 in the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis and plasma.
VGF or VGF nerve growth factor inducible is a protein that has been found to play a role in regulating energy homeostasis and metabolism. From VGF precursor derive two neuroendocrine regulatory peptides NERP-1 and NERP-2 that, intracerebroventricular (icv) injected, modulate the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release. Thus, we investigated possible modulations of the NERPs and other VGF peptides (namely VGF C-terminus, TLQP and PGH) in the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis, adrenal gland and plasma upon osmotic stimuli. ⋯ By immunohistochemistry, the VGF peptides studied (apart from the TLQP peptides) were present in the hypothalamic and pituitary ADH containing neurons of the control rats, while using WD and SL rats, an immunostaining increase was selectively revealed for VGF C-terminus peptides in the hypothalamic neurons that produce ADH. All VGF changes found using SL rats disappeared after only 1h of rehydration. In conclusion, we hypothesize that NERPs may be involved in both autocrine and endocrine mechanisms important for the fluid balance.