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Abstract
The distribution of neuropeptide Y in the central nervous system of adult male rats
was investigated using indirect immunofluorescence, the peroxidase-antiperoxidase
technique and by radioimmunoassay of microdissected brain regions. The different methods
were in good agreement and showed that neuropeptide Y had a widespread distribution
and was present in extremely high concentrations. The highest concentrations of neuropeptide
Y were found in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and hypothalamic arcuate
nucleus, which also contained the highest density of immunoreactive fibers and numbers
of perikarya, respectively. The suprachiasmatic nucleus, median eminence, dorsomedial
hypothalamic nucleus and paraventricular thalamic nucleus showed high concentrations
as well as high densities of fibers. Moderate concentrations were found in the bed
nucleus of the stria terminalis, although a high density of fibers was found. Areas
with moderate concentrations and densities of fibers were the medial preoptic area,
anterior hypothalamic area, periventricular nucleus, posterior hypothalamus and the
medial amygdaloid nucleus. The nucleus of the solitary tract contained a low concentration
of neuropeptide Y although a high number of immunoreactive perikarya was found in
colchicine-treated rats. Low concentrations were also measured in the cerebral cortex,
yet relatively high numbers of cell bodies and fibers were found dispersed through
the cortex. The extremely high concentrations and widespread distribution of neuropeptide
Y in the central nervous system suggests a number of important physiological roles
for this neurotransmitter candidate.