Herring salad

Herring Bodies are neurosecretory granules found in the posterior pituitary gland, specifically in the axon terminals of the neurohypophysis. They are named after Percy Theodore Herring, a British physiologist who first described them in 1908.

Structure and Function

Herring Bodies are essentially enlarged nerve endings or axon terminals filled with secretory granules. These granules contain the hormones vasopressin (also known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH) and oxytocin, which are synthesized in the hypothalamus and transported down the axons to the Herring Bodies for storage and release.

Vasopressin plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's water balance by controlling the reabsorption of water in the kidneys. Oxytocin, on the other hand, is involved in various functions such as uterine contractions during childbirth, milk ejection during breastfeeding, and social bonding.

Clinical Significance

Abnormalities in the function or structure of Herring Bodies can lead to various medical conditions. For instance, a deficiency in the production or release of vasopressin can result in diabetes insipidus, a condition characterized by excessive thirst and urination. Similarly, a lack of oxytocin can cause problems in childbirth and breastfeeding.

See Also

• Neurohypophysis
• Vasopressin
• Oxytocin
• Diabetes insipidus

References

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