Somatodendritic dynorphin release: orchestrating activity patterns of vasopressin neurons

C H Brown, V Scott, M Ludwig, G Leng, C W Bourque

Research output: Contribution to journalLiterature reviewpeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Most neurons in the central nervous system co-express peptides alongside their principal transmitter, yet the function of these peptides is largely unknown. Vasopressin neurons of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus contain among the highest concentrations of dynorphin found in the brain. Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, is co-localized in the same neurosecretory vesicles as vasopressin and is released alongside vasopressin from the dendrites and axon terminals of vasopressin neurons. We and others have shown that neuropeptide release from the soma and dendrites of vasopressin neurons activates vasopressin receptors and kappa-opioid receptors to cause activity-dependent modulation of vasopressin neuron activity, and that this is essential for activity patterning in vasopressin neurons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1236-42
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical Society Transactions
Volume35
Issue numberPt 5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2007

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Dynorphins
  • Neurons
  • Vasopressins

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Somatodendritic dynorphin release: orchestrating activity patterns of vasopressin neurons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this