tGLP-1 and release of vasopressin and oxytocin from the isolated rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system: effects of a tGLP-1 receptor agonist and antagonist.

To date, glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (tGLP-1) has been found to enhance the vasopressin and oxytocin secretion in vivo but not in vitro (i.e., when the isolated neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary was used for experiments). The goal of this study was to investigate whether tGLP-1 can influence the function of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex in vitro. Also, the effect of a tGLP-1 agonist, exendin-4, and antagonist, exendin-(9-39), on the release of vasopressin/oxytocin from the isolated rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex was tested. tGLP-1 enhanced the basal but not the potassium-stimulated release of vasopressin and oxytocin from the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial complex. On the other hand, tGLP-1 failed to affect the release of both hormones from the isolated neurointermediate lobe. The tGLP-1 agonist increased the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin from the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system whilst the tGLP-1 antagonist completely abolished the stimulatory effect of tGLP-1 on the secretion of both hormones. It is concluded that tGLP-1 affects the function of vasopressin- and oxytocinergic neurones through specific hypothalamic receptors.