[Subcellular distribution of hypothalamic neurohormones and in vitro stimulation of their release]

Neuronal compartments can be separated by differential spinning or by centrifugation on continuous or discontinuous density gradients. Application of these fractionation techniques to brain structures containing neurosecretory neurons shows that LHRH, somatostatin and a non dopamine prolactin inhibiting factor (PIF) are exclusively recovered from synaptosomal fractions. This indicates that biologically and/or immunologically reactive forms of these hormones are almost entirely concentrated in nerve-endings of neurosecretory neurons. In contrast, other neuropeptides - posterior pituitary hormone, but also TRH, a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P or endorphins - are also found in supernatant fractions. The existence of multiple molecular forms of neuropeptides is likely to explain these differences. Current theories postulate that they are synthetized on ribosomes as precursor forms. Their active structure is only achieved by enzymatic splitting of the pre- or the prohormone within nerve endings. This mode of synthesis is probably common to all neuropeptides, although it has only been well substantiated in a few cases, in particular for the hormones of the posterior pituitary. Thus, the lack of immunologically detectable LHRH or SRIF outside the synaptosomal fraction may reflect masking of the active immunological sites by inert peptide chains associated with prohormonal forms. Fractionation methods can also be applied to physiological or pharmacological experiments. In particular, they permit to characterize, on presynaptic membranes of neurosecretory neurons, specific receptors to neurotransmitters involved in the control of neurohormone secretion. Interaction of dopamine and acetylcholine with LHRH and CRF release are presented as examples of such applications.