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Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(4): 253-259
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-925346
Original
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Expression of Corticosteroid-binding Protein in the Human Hypothalamus, Co-localization with Oxytocin and Vasopressin

E.  V.  Sivukhina1, 2 , G.  F.  Jirikowski1 , H.  G.  Bernstein3 , J.  G.  Lewis4 , Z.  Herbert5
  • 1 Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
  • 2 Department of Histology and Embryology, Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russia
  • 3 Department of Psychiatry, Otto-von-Guerike-University, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 4 Steroid and Immunobiochemistry Laboratory, Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • 5 Department of Biology II, Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
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Publication History

Received 22 March 2005

Accepted after revision 8 September 2005

Publication Date:
15 May 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Corticosteroid-binding globulin, a specific steroid carrier in serum with high binding affinity for glucocorticoids, is expressed in various tissues. In the present study, we describe the immunocytochemical distribution of this protein in neurons and nerve fibers in the human hypothalamus. CBG immunoreactive perikarya and fibers were observed in the paraventricular, supraoptic, and sexual dimorphic nuclei in the perifornical region, as well as in the lateral hypothalamic and medial preoptic areas, the region of the diagonal band, suprachiasmatic and ventromedial nuclei, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and some epithelial cells from the choroid plexus and ependymal cells. Stained fibers occurred in the median eminence and infundibulum. Double immunostaining revealed a partial co-localization of corticosteroid-binding globulin with oxytocin and, to a lesser extent, with vasopressin in the paraventricular and the supraoptic nuclei. Double immunofluorescence staining showed coexistence of these substances in axonal varicosities in the median eminence. We conclude that neurons of the human hypothalamus are capable of expressing corticosteroid-binding globulin, in part co-localized with the classical neurohypophyseal hormones. The distribution of CBG immunoreactive neurons, which is widespread but limited to specific nuclei, indicates that CBG has many physiological functions that may include neuroendocrine regulation and stress response.

Key words

Human hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system - median eminence - corticosteroid-binding globulin - oxytocin - vasopressin - co-localization