Herring bodies
Encyclopedia
Herring bodies or neurosecretory bodies are structures found in the posterior pituitary
. They represent the terminal end of the axons from the hypothalamus
, and hormones are temporarily stored in these locations.
They are neurosecretory terminals.
Antidiuretic hormone
(ADH) and oxytocin
are both stored in Herring bodies, but are not stored simultaneously in the same Herring body.
In addition each Herring Body also contains ATP and a neurophysin. Neurophysins are binding proteins, of which there are two types: neurophysin I
and neurophysin II
which bind to oxytocin and ADH, respectively. Neurophysin and its hormone become a complex that is considered a single protein and stored in the neurohypophysis. Upon stimulation by the hypothalamus, secretory granules release said hormones into the bloodstream. Fibers from supraoptic nuclei are concerned with ADH secretion; paraventricular nuclei with oxytocin.
This anatomical structure was first described by Percy Theodore Herring
in 1908.
Posterior pituitary
The posterior pituitary comprises the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system. Despite its name, the posterior pituitary gland is not a gland, per se; rather, it is largely a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus that terminate behind the anterior...
. They represent the terminal end of the axons from the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
The Hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions...
, and hormones are temporarily stored in these locations.
They are neurosecretory terminals.
Antidiuretic hormone
Vasopressin
Arginine vasopressin , also known as vasopressin, argipressin or antidiuretic hormone , is a neurohypophysial hormone found in most mammals, including humans. Vasopressin is a peptide hormone that controls the reabsorption of molecules in the tubules of the kidneys by affecting the tissue's...
(ADH) and oxytocin
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that acts primarily as a neuromodulator in the brain.Oxytocin is best known for its roles in sexual reproduction, in particular during and after childbirth...
are both stored in Herring bodies, but are not stored simultaneously in the same Herring body.
In addition each Herring Body also contains ATP and a neurophysin. Neurophysins are binding proteins, of which there are two types: neurophysin I
Neurophysin I
Neurophysin I is a carrier protein with a size of 10 KDa and containing 90 to 97 aminoacids that is a cleavage product of preprooxyphysin...
and neurophysin II
Neurophysin II
Neurophysin II is a carrier protein which binds vasopressin. It is generated from the same precursor as vasopressin.It can be associated with neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus.Neurophysin II is also known as a stimulator of Prolactin secretion....
which bind to oxytocin and ADH, respectively. Neurophysin and its hormone become a complex that is considered a single protein and stored in the neurohypophysis. Upon stimulation by the hypothalamus, secretory granules release said hormones into the bloodstream. Fibers from supraoptic nuclei are concerned with ADH secretion; paraventricular nuclei with oxytocin.
This anatomical structure was first described by Percy Theodore Herring
Percy Theodore Herring
Percy Theodore Herring was a physician and physiologist, notable for first describing Herring bodies in the posterior pituitary gland....
in 1908.