Septo-hypothalamic organization of a stereotyped behavior controlled by vasopressin in golden hamsters.

In golden hamsters, microinjections of arginine vasopressin (AVP) within the anterior hypothalamus (AH) and lateral septum (LS) elicit the display of a stereotyped behavior: flank marking. As these areas are reciprocally connected, we tested whether AVP-sensitive sites constitute an organized network. Flank marking was recorded in animals with ibotenic acid lesions within the AH or LS after AVP injections within the LS or AH. While AVP injections in the AH and LS induced high flank-marking scores, certain lesions blocked the behavior. Lesions of the LS failed to affect flank marking induced by injections within the AH. In contrast, unilateral AH lesions blocked flank marking induced either by LS injections or AH injections in the contralateral side. These results suggest that the bilateral integrity of the AH is critical for the activation of flank-marking behavior by AVP. Together, these data suggest that the AH is an important relay of the neural network controlling flank-marking behavior.

Vasopressin in the septal area of the golden hamster controls scent marking and grooming.

Microinjection of arginine vasopressin into the lateral septum and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of male hamsters stimulates intense flank marking and flank gland grooming, while microinjections of vasopressin in sites immediately adjacent to these areas or in the lateral ventricle are ineffective. Microinjections of oxytocin, angiotensin II and the behaviorally active C-terminal fragment of vasopressin, metabolite neuropeptide, by comparison, do not stimulate flank marking. Effective sites for vasopressin injection are clearly superimposable upon autoradiographically defined sites of high V1-receptor density. Furthermore, vasopressin-sensitive neurons in the lateral septum and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are necessary for the expression of naturally elicited flank marking since the microinjection of a V1-receptor antagonist into these sites was able to temporarily block flank marking triggered by odors from conspecifics.

Computer-Aided Mapping of Vasopressin Neurons in the Hypothalamus of the Male Golden Hamster: Evidence of Magnocellular Neurons that do not Project to the Neurohypophysis.

Abstract Vasopressin-sensitive neurons in the region of the anterior hypothalamus are necessary for the mediation of flank marking behavior in the Golden hamster. The precise nature of the vasopressinergic innervation to the anterior hypothalamus is unknown. In this study we seek to examine the potential sources of this innervation by mapping and counting the vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons that contribute to the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, and those that do not. Vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamus were visualized by immunocytochemistry. Sections were mapped with a computer-aided microscope system, and labeled neurons counted. Two-dimensional maps were stacked into a three-dimensional wireframe model which could be manipulated for further examination. The average number of vasopressin neurons was 3,135, with over 60% of all perikarya localized to the lateral supraoptic nucleus. In a double-labeling study, neurons contributing to the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system were retrogradely labeled by the injection of horseradish peroxidase into the neurohypophysis. The enzyme reaction product was visualized by treatment with tetramethylbenzidine followed by nickel-conjugated diaminobenzidine. Sections were subsequently stained for vasopressin by immunocytochemistry. Single- and double-stained neurons from serial sections were mapped and counted. Wireframe and contoured three-dimensional representations were generated. The average number of neurons projecting to the neurohypophysis was 5,619. However, an average of 981 neurons was immunoreactive to vasopressin but devoid of horseradish peroxidase. The greatest number of these non-projecting perikarya were found in and around the anterior hypothalamus, localized primarily in the lateral and medial aspect of the supraoptic nuclei, the ventral area of the paraventricular nucleus, and the nucleus circularis. By comparing the number of non-projecting neurons found by double-staining to the total cell count of the entire vasopressin system, it was estimated that approximately 30% of all vasopressin neurons in and around the anterior hypothalamus did not project to the neurohypophysis. Based on the distribution and localization of the non-projecting perikarya, it is speculated that these neurons may provide neurotransmitter for vasopressin-dependent flank marking in the male Golden hamster.

Kainic Acid lesion of vasopressinergic neurons in the hypothalamus disrupts flank marking behavior in golden hamsters.

Abstract It is well established that flank marking behavior in the Golden hamster is controlled by vasopressin-sensitive neurons localized to the anterior hypothalamus; however, the source(s) of vasopressinergic innervation to this area is unknown. Previous analysis by immunocytochemistry showed distinct populations of vasopressinergic magnocellular neurons localized to the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and the nucleus circularis that did not project to the neurohypophysis. In the present study, these same hypothalamic nuclei were lesioned by microinjection of kainic acid to determine which, if any, of these populations of vasopressin neurons are involved in the control of flank marking. Unilateral lesions in the areas of the nucleus circularis and supraoptic nucleus at the rostro-caudal plane of the anterior hypothalamus abolished odor-induced flank marking behavior. Lesions in the paraventricular nucleus at the level of the anterior hypothalamus did not consistently inhibit flank marking, while lesions of magnocellular neurons rostral or caudal to the anterior hypothalamus were ineffective. The microinjection of vasopressin into the anterior hypothalamus following lesion of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei stimulated flank marking, evidence that treatment with kainic acid did not damage the efferent component of this behavior. However, animals with lesions in the nucleus circularis did not respond to the microinjection of vasopressin; hence, it is uncertain whether lesions in this area disrupt vasopressinergic innervation to the anterior hypothalamus or simply destroy the motor neurons controlling flank marking. In summary, the data clearly demonstrate that vasopressin neurons localized primarily to the medial aspect of the supraoptic nucleus are necessary for sensory integration of odor-induced flank marking, and as such, may be one possible source of neurotransmitter controlling this behavior.