Simultaneous detection of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity and vasopressin mRNA in neurons of the human paraventricular and supraoptic nucleus

Our purpose was to investigate the proportion of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- immunoreactive (IR) neurons expressing vasopressin (VP) mRNA in the human p araventricular and supraoptic nuclei by combining in situ hybridization wit h immunohistochemistry on the same tissue section. A variability in the pro portion of TH-IR neurons synthesizing VP mRNA was observed in adults which was usually more than 50%. In neonates almost all the TH-IR neurons appeare d to contain VP mRNA. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.