Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices
Published on: February 23, 2010
Evidence for the presence of PNMT-containing cell bodies in the hypothalamus
1Section on Clinical Pharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Abstract:
The presence of intrinsic neurons in the hypothalamus containing the enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), was investigated by selective destruction of the local cell bodies with kainic acid (KA), a potent excitotoxin. The unilateral stereotaxic injection of 2 micrograms of KA into the lateral hypothalamus produced a 30-35% decrease in the hypothalamic PNMT activity in the lesioned side compared with the contralateral uninjected side. The difference was statistically significant for up to 4 days after the lesion. The unilateral lesion did not have a unilateral effect on epinephrine or norepinephrine content as there was a significant reduction on both sides (50% for epinephrine and 30% for norepinephrine compared with saline injected). These data suggest the presence of intrinsic cell bodies in the lateral hypothalamus, containing the epinephrine-forming enzyme but lacking epinephrine storage sites. Our results support the previous hypothesis of the dissociation between epinephrine present in the hypothalamus and hypothalamic PNMT activity.
Related Concept Videos
Neurons: The Cell Body and the Dendrites
Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions
Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination
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...
The Pituitary Gland
The Pineal Gland
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
Regulation of Food Intake

