Plasticity and neuromodulation of neuroendocrine nerve terminals

Hypothalamic neuroendocrine neurons control diverse homeostatic functions that are essential for survival. While the cell bodies of these neurons are widely distributed, the nerve terminals converge on one specialised area of the brain called the median eminence. It is here that releasing hormones are secreted into the blood to control the function of the anterior pituitary gland. This current review summarises studies which demonstrate that nerve terminals in the median eminence can undergo unique forms of plasticity under different physiological states. This includes changes in the types of neuropeptides produced, changes in morphology and changes in glial coverage. In addition, median eminence nerve terminals can also act as independent sites of integration of both synaptic and hormonal signals to control the output of the neuroendocrine axis. Together these mechanisms allow for regulation of neurosecretion in response to different physiological demands.