The role of vasopressin in olfactory and visual processing

• Published in: Cell and tissue research Vol. 375; no. 1; pp. 201 - 215
• Main Authors: Wacker, Douglas, Ludwig, Mike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-01-2019; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Autocrine signalling; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Chemical communication; Cortex (olfactory); Cortex (piriform); Cortex (somatosensory); Fishes; Fluorescence; Genetic engineering; Green fluorescent protein; Human Genetics; Humans; Information processing; Models, Biological; Molecular Medicine; Neurons; Neurophysiology; Odorants; Olfactory bulb; Olfactory Pathways - metabolism; Paracrine signalling; Proteomics; Retina; Review; Rodents; Sensory integration; Signal Transduction; Social interactions; Vasopressin; Vasopressins - metabolism; Visual cortex; Visual Pathways - metabolism; Visual perception; Retina; Olfactory bulb; Social behaviour; Vasopressin; Olfaction
• ISSN: 0302-766X; 1432-0878
• DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2867-1

Neural vasopressin is a potent modulator of behaviour in vertebrates. It acts at both sensory processing regions and within larger regulatory networks to mediate changes in social recognition, affiliation, aggression, communication and other social behaviours. There are multiple populations of vasopressin neurons within the brain, including groups in olfactory and visual processing regions. Some of these vasopressin neurons, such as those in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, anterior olfactory nucleus, piriform cortex and retina, were recently identified using an enhanced green fluorescent protein-vasopressin (eGFP-VP) transgenic rat. Based on the interconnectivity of vasopressin-producing and sensitive brain areas and in consideration of autocrine, paracrine and neurohormone-like actions associated with somato-dendritic release, we discuss how these different neuronal populations may interact to impact behaviour.