Double immunofluorescence staining of Fos and Jun in the hypothalamus of the rat.

The nuclear factor Fos participates in the transcriptional regulation of genes that contain a functional AP-1 binding site. Hyperosmotic stress induces Fos-like immunoreactivity in neurons of the hypothalamus. Fos appears to depend on the co-expression of the nuclear factor Jun, with which it dimerizes, to complete its regulatory role. The immunocytochemical co-localization of both peptides, however, has not been reported. The present study was designed to analyze the distribution of Fos and Jun by double immunofluorescence staining in Long-Evans rats that were osmotically challenged by a single intraperitoneal injection of 1.5 M NaCl. Non-injected and isotonic saline-injected animals were used as controls. Hypertonic saline injection induced Jun immunoreactivity in cell nuclei in the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and median preoptic nucleus. The immunofluorescence for Jun was strong in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, but weak in the median preoptic nucleus. The immunofluorescence for Fos in all 3 nuclei followed a similar pattern to that for Jun. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed co-localization of Jun with Fos in 87.4% of the cells of the supraoptic nucleus. Neither Jun nor Fos immunofluorescence was detected in control animals. The data support a role for Jun in transcriptional regulation of genes in hypothalamic neurons during acute hyperosmotic stress. Moreover, the findings are compatible with the suggestion that Fos and Jun act cooperatively in the regulation of gene transcription in neuroendocrine systems involved in the control of water balance during acute hyperosmotic stimulation.