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Related Concept Videos

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination01:23

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination

The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
The Pituitary Gland01:17

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.
Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation
09:29

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation

Published on: August 4, 2023

Dynamic synapses in the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system.

Karl J Iremonger1, Jaideep S Bains

  • 1Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Progress in Brain Research
|July 29, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals that asynchronous glutamate release from synapses onto magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) in the hypothalamus initiates patterned neuronal activity, crucial for hormone release.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Hypothalamic Neuroscience

Background:

  • Posterior pituitary hormone release (vasopressin, oxytocin) depends on magnocellular neurosecretory cell (MNC) activity in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei.
  • MNC activity patterns are shaped by synaptic inputs and intrinsic neuronal properties, with synaptic contributions being less understood.
  • Glutamate release is essential for initiating and sustaining MNC bursting, but the mechanism linking synaptic currents to prolonged discharges remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of synaptic input characteristics in regulating MNC activity patterns.
  • To elucidate how brief synaptic depolarizations trigger prolonged MNC firing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent laboratory findings on glutamate synapse function in MNCs.

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  • Analysis of presynaptic action potential-evoked transmitter release dynamics.
  • Examination of postsynaptic integration of asynchronous synaptic input.

    • Main Results:

    • Glutamate synapses onto MNCs exhibit asynchronous transmitter release following presynaptic action potentials, differing from typical brain synapses.
    • This asynchronous input is integrated by MNCs.
    • Asynchronous release may activate postsynaptic conductances essential for patterned activity induction.

    Conclusions:

    • Asynchronous glutamate release is a key mechanism for initiating and sustaining patterned activity in MNCs.
    • This unique synaptic property contributes to the regulation of vasopressin and oxytocin release.
    • Understanding this mechanism provides insight into hypothalamic neurosecretory function.