Parvocellular neurosecretory cells are small neurons that produce hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones. The cell bodies of these neurons are located in various nuclei of the hypothalamus or in closely related areas of the basal brain, mainly in the medial zone of the hypothalamus.[1][2] All or most of the axons of the parvocellular neurosecretory cells project to the median eminence, at the base of the brain, where their nerve terminals release the hypothalamic hormones.[1] These hormones are then immediately absorbed into the blood vessels of the hypothalamo-pituitary portal system, which carry them to the anterior pituitary gland, where they regulate the secretion of hormones into the systemic circulation.[1][3][4]
Types
The parvocellular neurosecretory cells include those that make:
^Sawchenko, PE (Dec 29, 1987). "Evidence for differential regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor and vasopressin immunoreactivities in parvocellular neurosecretory and autonomic-related projections of the paraventricular nucleus". Brain Research. 437 (2): 253–63. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(87)91641-6. PMID3325130. S2CID38822848.
^Horn, A. M.; Robinson, I. C. A. F.; Fink, G. (1 February 1985). "Oxytocin and vasopressin in rat hypophysial portal blood: experimental studies in normal and Brattleboro rats". Journal of Endocrinology. 104 (2): 211–NP. doi:10.1677/joe.0.1040211. PMID3968510.
^Freeman, ME; Kanyicska, B; Lerant, A; Nagy, G (October 2000). "Prolactin: structure, function, and regulation of secretion". Physiological Reviews. 80 (4): 1523–631. doi:10.1152/physrev.2000.80.4.1523. PMID11015620.
^Johnston, CA; Negro-Vilar, A (January 1988). "Role of oxytocin on prolactin secretion during proestrus and in different physiological or pharmacological paradigms". Endocrinology. 122 (1): 341–50. doi:10.1210/endo-122-1-341. PMID3335212.
^Watanobe, H; Takebe, K (April 1993). "In vivo release of neurotensin from the median eminence of ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats as estimated by push-pull perfusion: correlation with luteinizing hormone and prolactin surges". Neuroendocrinology. 57 (4): 760–4. doi:10.1159/000126434. PMID8367038.