Role of central oxytocin in the control of the milk ejection reflex

The neuropeptide oxytocin, synthetized by magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamus, is well known for its peripheral action after it is released into the bloodstream from axons in the neurohypophysis. Less familiar is the notion that it is also released centrally to control the activity of oxytocinergic neurons themselves. When injected into the third ventricle of lactating rats during suckling, oxytocin increases the basal firing rate of oxytocinergic neurons as well as their activity at the time of each reflex milk ejection. On the other hand, centrally administered oxytocin engenders the neuronal-glial and synaptic plasticity characteristic of the oxytocin system when it is physiologically activated. From numerous in vivo and in vitro observations, it appears that central oxytocin is released in the hypothalamic nuclei themselves. For example, the use of push-pull cannulae inserted into one supraoptic nucleus of suckled rats shows that oxytocin is released inside the nucleus specifically during milk ejection. Moreover, ultrastructural immunocytochemistry reveals synaptic terminals in the supraoptic nucleus where both the pre- and postsynaptic elements are oxytocinergic. Nevertheless, the mechanism of the central release of the neuropeptide has still to be determined, especially in view of electrophysiological observations indicating that the release process in the hypothalamus is different from that within the neurohypophysis.