Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 487, Issue 2, 7 January 2011, Pages 187-190
Neuroscience Letters

The arcuate nucleus as a circumventricular organ in the mouse

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2010.10.019Get rights and content

Abstract

The present study searched for morphological correlates of the permeability of the ventromedial arcuate nucleus of the mouse to blood-borne proteins. First, we determined that highly permeable microvessels are detected in the ventromedial arcuate nucleus using a rat monoclonal antibody to a mouse-specific endothelial phenotype (clone MECA32) recently recognized as a marker of endothelial fenestral diaphragms and previously shown to label circumventricular organs. Second, in the mild conditions of tissue fixation mandatory for use of MECA32, we observed that after a rapid vascular flush with saline, endogenous immunoglobulins are especially retained in circumventricular organs and ventromedial arcuate nucleus. The ventromedial arcuate nucleus thus shares features in common with classical circumventricular organs.

Research highlights

▶ The circumventricular organs are brain territories outside the blood–brain-barrier. ▶ Circumventricular organs host fenestrated microvessels for blood sensing. ▶ The mediobasal hypothalamus is expected to host a circumventricular organ. ▶ The mediobasal hypothalamus host fenestrated microvessels. ▶ The mediobasal hypothalamus host a circumventricular organ.

Section snippets

Conflict of interest

The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The confocal microscopy was done in the Bordeaux Imaging Center of the University of Bordeaux 2. The help of Philippe Legros and Christel Poujol is acknowledged. Supported by INSERM, Université de Bordeaux 2 and La Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale.

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