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Developmental Neuroendocrinology pp 345–366Cite as

Organization and Postnatal Development of Visceral Sensory Inputs to the Neuroendocrine Hypothalamus

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Part of the book series: Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology ((MANEURO,volume 9))

Abstract

Sensory signals arising in the body’s internal organs are delivered to the central nervous system by spinal and vagal afferent neurons. These signals modulate pituitary hormone release via ascending neural pathways from the caudal brainstem to the neuroendocrine hypothalamus. Interoceptive (i.e., visceral) feedback regarding the moment-to-moment state of gastrointestinal and other physiological systems is critical for shaping and coordinating adaptive neuroendocrine functions, including hormonal responses to real or perceived homeostatic threats. This chapter summarizes the functional organization and postnatal development of visceral sensory inputs to the neuroendocrine hypothalamus in rats and mice, the two mammalian models in which most of the relevant data have been collected. A special emphasis is placed on hypothalamic inputs arising from noradrenergic (NA) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) neurons, whose cell bodies occupy the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and medullary reticular formation (RF). The axonal projections of NA and GLP1 neurons directly target the hypothalamic medial preoptic area (mPOA), arcuate nucleus (ARC), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and supraoptic nucleus (SON), where adrenergic and GLP1 receptor signaling modulates neuroendocrine gene expression, pulsatile activity, and pituitary hormone release. NA and GLP1 inputs to the neuroendocrine hypothalamus mature postnatally in rats and mice, likely contributing to the developmental maturation of pituitary hormone release in response to both interoceptive and exteroceptive signals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Linda Rinaman

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  1. Linda Rinaman
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Correspondence to Linda Rinaman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, USA

    Susan Wray

  2. Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Seth Blackshaw

Key References

Key References

  • Bouret and Simerly (2007)—This review article summarizes evidence that the intrinsic hypothalamic circuits that integrate interoceptive signals (here, leptin signaling from visceral adipose tissue) undergo a significant amount of postnatal development in rodents. The authors present evidence that a natural postnatal surge in leptin promotes neural outgrowth and synapse formation within the neuroendocrine hypothalamus.

  • Coyle and Axelrod (1971)—One of the first publications providing evidence that noradrenergic inputs to the hypothalamus (which originate primarily from the hindbrain NTS and VLM) develop gradually during the first 3 weeks postnatal in rats.

  • Day et al. (1985)—This report provides compelling evidence in adult rats that noradrenergic projections from the hindbrain NTS and VLM to the neuroendocrine hypothalamus facilitate the activity of neuroendocrine neurons that control anterior pituitary hormone release.

  • Kamilaris et al. (1992)—A comprehensive set of experiments demonstrating that systemic CCK activates vagal sensory inputs to the NTS in rats, promoting activation of neuroendocrine CRH neurons at the apex of the HPA axis.

  • Rinaman and Koehnle (2010)—This book chapter summarizes what was known at the time regarding the anatomical and functional development of ascending visceral sensory pathways from the hindbrain NTS to the hypothalamus and other forebrain regions in rats.

  • Sawchenko and Swanson (1982)—A classic paper and required reading for anyone interested in understanding the anatomical organization of ascending hindbrain-hypothalamic circuits. The authors focus on inputs to the neuroendocrine hypothalamus.

  • Walker et al. (1991)—A comprehensive analysis of what was previously called the “stress nonresponsive period” of postnatal development. The authors conclude that the HPA axis is responsive to certain types of stimuli (including those that do not depend on ascending visceral sensory pathways to the hypothalamus), and effectively argue that this early developmental period should instead be called the “stress hyporesponsive period” (SHRP).

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Rinaman, L. (2020). Organization and Postnatal Development of Visceral Sensory Inputs to the Neuroendocrine Hypothalamus. In: Wray, S., Blackshaw, S. (eds) Developmental Neuroendocrinology. Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology, vol 9. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40002-6_13

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