Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 4, 1240-1247, Copyright © 1984 by Society for Neuroscience
The distribution of immunoreactive alpha-neo-endorphin in the central nervous system of the rat
N Zamir, M Palkovits and MJ Brownstein
Using a specific radioimmunoassay, we have found that immunoreactive (ir)
alpha-neo-endorphin has a widespread and unique distribution in the rat
brain and spinal cord. The highest concentration in brain is in the
substantia nigra (1692.1 fmol/mg of protein). Very high concentrations of
ir-alpha- neo-endorphin (greater than 500 fmol/mg of protein) are also
found in the lateral preoptic nucleus, dentate gyrus, parabrachial nuclei,
nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, median eminence, and anterior
hypothalamic nucleus. Relatively high concentrations of
ir-alpha-neo-endorphin (250 to 500 fmol/mg of protein) are present in the
bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, paraventricular nucleus, nucleus of
the solitary tract, dorsomedial nucleus, central amygdaloid nucleus,
periaqueductal gray matter, suprachiasmatic nucleus, periventricular
nucleus, hippocampus, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, arcuate nucleus,
ventromedial nucleus, medial preoptic nucleus, zona incerta, dorsal
premamillary nucleus, medial forebrain bundle (hypothalamic and preoptic),
nucleus of the diagonal band, locus ceruleus, lateral septal nucleus, and
nucleus ambiguus . Moderate levels (100 to 250 fmol/mg of protein) are
found in the posterior hypothalamic nucleus, ventral premamillary nucleus,
dorsal raphe nucleus, motor hypoglossal nucleus, caudate-putamen,
periventricular thalamic nucleus, subcommissural organ, sensory trigeminal
nucleus, perifornical nucleus, area postrema, supraoptic nucleus, cuneate
nucleus, medial amygdaloid nucleus, and organum vasculosum laminae
terminalis. Low concentrations of ir-alpha-neo- endorphin (less than 100
fmol/mg of protein) are found in many cortical structures, claustrum,
thalamic nuclei, habenular nuclei, lateral geniculate body, red nucleus,
superior and inferior colliculi, paramedian reticular nucleus, pontine
nuclei, superior olive, vestibular nuclei, motor facial nucleus,
gigantocellular reticular nucleus, and subfornical organ.(ABSTRACT
TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)