Paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus

Information about Paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus

Brain:
Human paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in this coronal section is indicated by the shaded area. Dots represent vasopressin (AVP) neurons (also seen in the supraoptic nucleus, SON). The medial surface is the 3rd ventricle (3V), with more lateral to the left.
Magnocellular neurons of the PVN and SON project to the posterior "lobe" of the pituitary
Latinnuclei paraventricularis hypothalami
NeuroNameshier-370
MeSH Paraventricular+hypothalamic+nucleus
Dorlands/Elsevier n_11/12582324
The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is an aggregation of neurons in the hypothalamus, which produces many hormones.

Location

It is adjacent to the third ventricle (hence the name of the nucleus.)

Although it is in the periventricular zone, it is not to be confused with the periventricular nucleus that occupies a more medial, subjacent position to the third ventricle.

The PVN is highly vascularised and is within the blood-brain barrier, although the neuroendocrine neurons in this nucleus project to sites (the median eminence and the posterior pituitary) that lack a blood-brain barrier.

Neurons

The PVN contains magnocellular neurosecretory cells whose axons extend into the posterior pituitary, parvocellular neurosecretory cells that project to the median eminence, and several populations of peptide-containing cells that project to many different brain regions.

Magnocellular neurosecretory neurons

The magnocellular cells in the PVN produce two hormones: These peptide hormones are packaged in large dense-core vesicles, which are transported down the axons and released from neurosecretory nerve terminals in the posterior pituitary gland.

Similar magnocellular neurons are found in the supraoptic nucleus.

Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons

The parvocellular neurosecretory neurons of the PVN project axons to the median eminence, at the base of the brain. At the median eminence, the neurosecretory nerve terminals release peptides into the blood vessels of the hypothalamo-pituitary portal system. These vessels carry the peptides to the anterior pituitary gland, where they regulate hormone secretion into the systemic circulation. The parvocellular neurosecretory cells include cells that make the following hormones:

Centrally-projecting neurons

As well as neuroendocrine neurons, the PVN contains interneurons and populations of neurons that project centrally (i.e., to other brain regions). The centrally-projecting neurons include:
  • parvocellular oxytocin cells that project mainly to the brainstem and spinal cord and are involved in gastric reflexes and penile erection, respectively
  • parvocellular vasopressin cells that project to many areas of the hypothalamus and limbic system, as well as to the brainstem and spinal cord. These neurons are involved in blood pressure and temperature regulation
  • parvocellular CRH neurons that are thought to be involved in stress-associated behaviors.

Afferent inputs to the PVN

The PVN receives afferent inputs from many brain regions.

Among these, inputs from neurons in structures adjacent to the anterior wall of the third ventricle ("AV3V region") carry information about the electrolyte composition of the blood, and about circulating concentrations of hormones such as angiotensin and relaxin to regulate the magnocellular neurons.

Inputs from the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract and the ventrolateral medulla carry information from the heart and stomach. Inputs from the hippocampus to the CRH neurones are important regulators of stress responses.

Inputs from neuropeptide Y-containing neurons in the arcuate nucleus co-ordinate metabolic regulation via TRH secretion with regulation of energy intake.

References

External links

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Brain: diencephalon
EpithalamusPineal body • Habenula (Habenular nuclei)
Hypothalamus
SubthalamusSubthalamic nucleus • Zona incerta • Thalamic fasciculus • Lenticular fasciculus
Thalamus/nucleiVentral nuclear group (VA/VL, VP/VPM/VPL) • MD • AN • LNG (Pulvinar) • Intralaminar nucleus (Centromedian nucleus) • Midline nuclear group • Thalamic reticular nucleus • Metathalamus (MG, LG) • Interthalamic adhesion
Third ventriclerecesses: (Optic recess, Infundibular recess, Suprapineal recess, Pineal recess) • Hypothalamic sulcus
OtherInterventricular foramina • Optic chiasm • Subfornical organ • Mammillothalamic tract
Arginine vasopressin (AVP), also known as argipressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a hormone found in most mammals, including humans. One of its most important roles is to regulate the body's retention of water, being released when the body is
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The supraoptic nucleus (SON) is a nucleus of magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus of the mammalian brain. The nucleus is situated at the base of the brain, adjacent to the optic chiasm, and, in humans, it contains about 3,000 neurons.
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Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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NeuroNames is a system of nomenclature for the human and/or macaque brain.

It is maintained by the University of Washington and is a part of a tool called "BrainInfo". BrainInfo helps one identify structures in the brain.
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Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. Created and updated by the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM), it is used by the MEDLINE/PubMed
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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland (hypophysis). The hypothalamus, (from Greek ὑποθαλαμος = under the thalamus) is located below the thalamus, just above the brain stem.
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hormone (from Greek όρμή - "to set in motion") is a chemical messenger that carries a signal from one cell (or group of cells) to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones (including plants - see phytohormone).
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The third ventricle (ventriculus tertius) is one of four connected fluid-filled cavities comprising the ventricular system within the human brain. It is a median cleft between the two thalami, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
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The Periventricular nucleus is a composite structure of the hypothalamus.

It should not be confused with the paraventricular nucleus.

External links

  • NeuroNames ancil-748

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The third ventricle (ventriculus tertius) is one of four connected fluid-filled cavities comprising the ventricular system within the human brain. It is a median cleft between the two thalami, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
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The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a membranic structure that acts primarily to protect the brain from chemicals in the blood, while still allowing essential metabolic function. It is composed of endothelial cells, which are packed very tightly in brain capillaries.
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The median eminence is part of the inferior boundary for the hypothalamus part of the human brain. A small swelling on the tuber cinereum posterior to the infundibulum - atop the pituitary stalk - the median eminence
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The posterior pituitary (or neurohypophysis) comprises the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system.

Anatomy

The Posterior Pituitary Gland
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Magnocellular neurosecretory cells are large cells within the supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. They are also found in smaller numbers in accessory cell groups between these two nuclei, the largest one being the nucleus circularis.
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The posterior pituitary (or neurohypophysis) comprises the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system.

Anatomy

The Posterior Pituitary Gland
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The median eminence is part of the inferior boundary for the hypothalamus part of the human brain. A small swelling on the tuber cinereum posterior to the infundibulum - atop the pituitary stalk - the median eminence
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Peptides (from the Greek πεπτίδια, "small digestibles") are short polymers formed from the linking, in a defined order, of α-amino acids.
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Magnocellular can refer to:
  • Magnocellular part
  • Magnocellular neurosecretory cell
  • Magnocellular pathway

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Oxytocin (ŏk'sĭ-tō'sĭn) (Greek: "quick birth") is a mammalian hormone that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. In females, it is released in large amounts after distension of the cervix and vagina during labor, and after stimulation of the
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Arginine vasopressin (AVP), also known as argipressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a hormone found in most mammals, including humans. One of its most important roles is to regulate the body's retention of water, being released when the body is
..... Click the link for more information.
hormone (from Greek όρμή - "to set in motion") is a chemical messenger that carries a signal from one cell (or group of cells) to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones (including plants - see phytohormone).
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axon or nerve fiber, is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body or soma.

Anatomy


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The posterior pituitary (or neurohypophysis) comprises the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system.

Anatomy

The Posterior Pituitary Gland
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The supraoptic nucleus (SON) is a nucleus of magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus of the mammalian brain. The nucleus is situated at the base of the brain, adjacent to the optic chiasm, and, in humans, it contains about 3,000 neurons.
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Parvocellular can refer to:
  • Parvocellular part
  • part of the Paraventricular nucleus

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The anterior pituitary (also called the adenohypophysis, from Greek adeno, "gland"; hypo, "under"; physis, "growth"; hence, glandular undergrowth) comprises the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system.
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Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), originally named corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and also called corticoliberin, is a polypeptide hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the stress response.
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The anterior pituitary (also called the adenohypophysis, from Greek adeno, "gland"; hypo, "under"; physis, "growth"; hence, glandular undergrowth) comprises the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system.
..... Click the link for more information.
Arginine vasopressin (AVP), also known as argipressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a hormone found in most mammals, including humans. One of its most important roles is to regulate the body's retention of water, being released when the body is
..... Click the link for more information.

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