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Inter- and intra-nuclear differences in galanin expression between the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei in colchicine-untreated rats
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Inter- and intra-nuclear differences in galanin expression between the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei in colchicine-untreated rats

Chuma O Okere and Barry D Waterhouse
Brain research, v 972(1-2), pp 222-228
16 May 2003
PMID: 12711096

Abstract

Animals Colchicine - pharmacology Galanin - metabolism Immunohistochemistry - methods Male Nerve Fibers - metabolism Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - cytology Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - metabolism Rats Rats, Long-Evans Supraoptic Nucleus - cytology Supraoptic Nucleus - metabolism Tissue Distribution
Not much is known of the topography of galanin expression in the hypothalamic supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei neurons in colchicine (an axoplasmic inhibitor)-untreated animals. Insight into the biological implication(s) of galanin expression in the PVN and SON will depend, at least in part, on the nature of its distribution in colchicine-untreated animals. In this study therefore, the topographical distribution of galaninergic profiles was examined in the PVN and SON of colchicine-untreated rats. Staining in the parvocellular PVN (PVN(p)) was predominantly as varicose thin galanin fiber processes while the magnocellular PVN (PVN(m)) contained large cell soma and fiber processes. The relative fiber density was higher in the anterior, periventricular and medial PVN(p) than in the dorsal, lateral and posterior subdivisions. Large-sized cells and thick fibers were limited to the posterior PVN(m) while the anterior and medial PVN(m) contained varicose profiles. Light- and intensely-stained galanin-positive cells as well as large- and small-diameter (varicose or non-varicose) fibers were observed in the SON. The large and thin fibers exhibit preferential ventral and dorsal distribution, respectively. Together with the complexity of specific afferent and efferent connections within the PVN and SON, these observations underscore heterogeneous galanin expression and raise potential implications for understanding the biological role of galanin by physiologically challenging stimuli.

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