Median preoptic nucleus

Baker, F. C., Shah, S., Stewart, D. et al. (2005b). Interleukin 10 enhances non-rapid eye movement sleep and increases c-Fos expression in the median preoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Am. J. Physiol. Regul Integr. Comp. Physiol. 288, R998-1005. 

Suntsova, N., Szymusiak, R., Alam, Md. N., Guzman-Marin, R., McGinty, D. (2002). Sleep-waking discharge patterns of median preoptic nucleus neurons in rats. 

Zardetto-Smith, A. Johnson, A. (1885). Chemical topography of efferent projections from the median preoptic nucleus to pontine monoaminergic cell groups in the rat. NeuroscL Lett. 199, 215-19. 

Fitts DA, Tjepkes DS. Bright RO. Salt appetite and lesions of the ventral part of the ventral median preoptic nucleus. Behav Neurosci 1990 104 818-827. 

Abbreviations ACo = anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus AOB = accessory olfactory bulb Me = medial amygdaloid nucleus AON = anterior olfactory nucleus (m = medial division) PCo = posterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus BST = bed nucleus of the stria terminalis DHR = dorsal hippocampal rudiment DPC = dorsal peduncular cortex DR = dorsal raphe nucleus Ent = entorhinal cortex LC = locus coeruleus LPO = lateral preoptic area MOB = main olfactory bulb MnR = median raphe BAOT = nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract NLOT = nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract DB = nucleus of the diagonal band PeCo = periamygdaloid cortex Pir = piriform cortex Tu = olfactory tubercle TT = taenia tecta... 

In quantitative studies using a radiolabelled MSH tracer, MSH was shown to bind most intensely in the septal area, septohypothalamic nucleus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the medial preoptic area. Moderate binding was seen in hypothalamic structures including the median eminence, the ventromedial, dorsomedial, arcuate and paraventricular nuclei, and the lateral hypothalamus. These structures are profusely innervated by immunoreactive ct-MSH- and ACTH-containing fibers (Eskay et al., 1979 O Donohue et al., 1979 Guy et al., 1980 Joseph, 1990). The median eminence is also well supplied with MSH receptors, supporting a role for this structure by which peripherally administered neuropeptides may penetrate to exert their central effects (Banks and Kastin, 1988). 

One important neuronal TRH control center appears to be the paraventricular nucleus, but TRH Is widely distributed in the hypothalamus and highly concentrated in the median eminence (4). One important ipactor regulating TRH production is environmental temperature. Both peripheral thermal receptors and preoptic neuronal thermal receptors monitor environmental and central body temperature these receptors modulate preoptic neuronal outflow to the paraventricular nucleus and other TRH synthesizing neurons in the hypothalamus and median eminence which. In turn, modulate TRH secretion (4). Decreasing environmental and/or core body temperature Increase TRH output and increase the tonic level of TSH release. Somatostatin (SRIF) and dopamine can inhibit TSH release by actions at the pituitary level, and these inhibitory transmitters contribute to central nervous system modulation of TSH release (4). There is evidence that serotonin may be inhibitory in the adult rat, but this does not seem to be so in other species. Norepinephrine also may be inhibitory. Glucocorticoid can inhibit TSH release at the hypothalamic level, but the mechanism is not known. The exact roles of TRH and non-TRH regulatory factors in TSH control are not clear. Administration of somatostatin antiserum to adult rats increases basal TSH levels and potentiates the TSH response to cold (19). Inhibitory factors probably also play a role in the diurnal variation in TSH secretion, in the inhibitory reactions to stress, in the variation in thyroidal activity in psychosis, etc. 

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