Neurological control of vasopressin release

Vasopressin (VP)-containing neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei are influenced by a number of diverse, chemically defined neural systems. Of these the anatomy and physiology of noradrenergic and cholinergic afferents are best understood. Norepinephrine (NE)-containing neurons of the caudal medulla heavily innervate VP neurons; NE has been shown to either inhibit or facilitate the release of VP under different experimental paradigms. Acetylcholine is a powerful stimulant of VP release. gamma-Aminobutyric acid also appears to inhibit release. Several other putative transmitters are localized within the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, which suggests that VP release is integrated by a wide variety of neural systems.