Janusz Najdzion

The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactivity in the amygdala of the pig.

With 5 figures and 1 table

Distribution and chemical coding pattern of the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactivity in the preoptic area of the pig

This study provides a detailed description of cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) distribution and the co-localization pattern of CART and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY), cholecystokinin (CCK), and substance P (SP) in the preoptic area (POA) of the domestic pig. The POA displays a low density of immunoreactive cells and rich immunoreactivity for CART in fibers. CART-immunoreactive (CART-IR) cell bodies were single and faintly stained, and located in the medial preoptic area (MPA) and the periventricular region of the POA. A high density of immunoreactive fibers was observed in the periventricular preoptic nucleus (PPN); a high to moderate density of fibers was observed in the MPA; but in the dorso-medial region of the MPA the highest density of fibers in the whole POA was observed. The lateral preoptic area (LPA) exhibited a less dense concentration of CART-immunoreactive fibers than the MPA. The median preoptic nucleus (MPN) showed moderate to low expression of staining fibers. In the present study, dual-labeling immunohistochemistry was used to show that CART-IR cell bodies do not contain any GnRH and SP. CART-positive fibers were identified in close apposition with GnRH neurons. This suggests that CART may influence GnRH secretion. Double staining revealed that CART-IR structures do not co-express any of the substances we studied, but a very small population of CART-IR fibers also contain SOM, CCK or SP.

The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the medial geniculate body of the guinea pig.

The purpose of this study was to describe the distribution and colocalization of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and three calcium-binding proteins (calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin) in each main division of the medial geniculate body (MGB) in the guinea pig. From low to moderate CART immunoreactivity was observed in all divisions of the MGB, although in most of its length only fibers and neuropil were labeled. A small number of CART immunoreactive somata were observed in the caudal segment of the MGB. The central parts of all divisions contained a distinctly smaller number of CART immunoreactive fibers relative to their outer borders, where CART fibers formed patchy clusters. As a whole, the intense CART immunoreactive borders formed a shell around the weakly CART labeled core. Double-labeling immunofluorescence showed that CART did not colocalize with either calbindin, calretinin or parvalbumin, whose immunoreactivity was predominantly restricted to perikarya. The distribution pattern of calretinin was more similar to that of calbindin than to that of parvalbumin. Calretinin and calbindin exhibited higher immunoreactivity in the medial and dorsal divisions of the MGB, where parvalbumin staining was low. In general, although parvalbumin exhibited the weakest immunoreactivity of all studied Ca(2+) binding proteins, it was most highly expressed in the ventral division of the MGB. Our results indicate that CART could be involved in hearing, although its immunoreactivity in the medial geniculate complex was not as intense as in other sensory brain regions. In the guinea pig the heterogeneous and complementary pattern of calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin is evident, however, the overlap in staining appears to be more extensive than that seen in other rodents.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and calcium binding proteins immunoreactivity in the subicular complex of the guinea pig.

In this study we present the distribution and colocalization pattern of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and three calcium-binding proteins: calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the subicular complex (SC) of the guinea pig. The subiculum (S) and presubiculum (PrS) showed higher CART-immunoreactivity (-IR) than the parasubiculum (PaS) as far as the perikarya and neuropil were concerned. CART- IR cells were mainly observed in the pyramidal layer and occasionally in the molecular layer of the S. In the PrS and PaS, single CART-IR perikarya were dispersed, however with a tendency to be found only in superficial layers. CART-IR fibers were observed throughout the entire guinea pig subicular neuropil. Double-labeling immunofluorescence showed that CART-IR perikarya, as well as fibers, did not stain positively for any of the three CaBPs. CART-IR fibers were only located near the CB-, CR-, PV-IR perikarya, whereas CART-IR fibers occasionally intersected fibers containing one of the three CaBPs. The distribution pattern of CART was more similar to that of CB and CR than to that of PV. In the PrS, the CART, CB and CR immunoreactivity showed a laminar distribution pattern. In the case of the PV, this distribution pattern in the PrS was much less prominent than that of CART, CB and CR. We conclude that a heterogeneous distribution of the CART and CaBPs in the guinea pig SC is in keeping with findings from other mammals, however species specific differences have been observed.

Distribution of the Cocaine and Amphetamine - Regulated Transcript (Cart) and Calcium Binding Proteins Immunoreactivity in the Preoptic Area of the Ram

Abstract The aim of the study was to describe the distribution of cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) of EF-hand family, namely calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the preoptic area (POA) of the ram. Frozen sections were processed for a routine immunofluorescence labelling. CART, calbindin, and calretinin immunoreactivity was present in neurons and fibers of the preoptic area, whereas parvalbumin showed immunoreactivity only in the POA fibers. CART displayed from a moderate to low immunoreactivity in cells and a high immunoreactivity in fibers. The highest immunoreactivity of all studied CaBPs exhibited calbindin, whereas the lowest parvalbumin. The results of the present study suggest that among the studied CaBPs, calbindin is the most likely to be involved in the participation of the important regulatory functions in the ram’s POA and the rich CART innervation seems to be strictly related to its control of the reproduction.

A Morphometric Comparative Study of the Medial Geniculate Body of the Rabbit and the Fox

With 6 figures and 2 tables

Distribution of Galanin and Galanin Receptor 2 in the Pre‐optic Area of the Female Guinea Pig

This study describes the distribution of galanin (Gal) and galanin receptor 2 (GalR2) in the pre‐optic area (POA) of the female guinea pig. Frozen sections were undergone for a routine immunofluorescence labelling. Gal and GalR2 display immunoreactivity in all parts of the pre‐optic area. Gal shows reactivity both in perikarya and fibres, whereas GalR2 was observed only in perikarya. Gal‐ and GalR2‐immunoreactive (‐ir) perikarya were the most numerous in the medial pre‐optic area (MPA) with the highest reactivity in its dorsal part. In the median pre‐optic nucleus (MPN) and periventricular pre‐optic nucleus (PPN), only single Gal‐ and GalR2‐ir neurons were observed. The highest density of Gal‐ir fibres was revealed in the PPN and the lowest in the lateral pre‐optic area (LPA). The results of this study indicate that the distribution pattern of Gal containing neurons overlaps well with the distribution pattern of GalR2‐positive neurons, especially in the MPA. This may suggest GalR2‐dependent activity in this brain region.

Cocaine- and amphetamine–regulated transcript peptide and calcium binding proteins immunoreactivity in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus in the guinea pig: Implications for visual sensory processing

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and colocalization of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) and three calcium-binding proteins (calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin) in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SCs) in the guinea pig. The CART immunoreactivity was observed exclusively in the solitary fibers and neuropil, which formed various CART-ir tiers, that corresponded partially or entirely to anatomically defined layers of the SCs. The CART-ir structures exhibited a characteristic morphology with bundles of densely intermingled neuronal fibers and terminals. This pattern of CART immunoreactivity in the visually driven SCs strongly indicates that CART peptide as a putative neurotransmitter may play an important role in processing of visual information. Double-labeling immunofluorescence showed that CART did not colocalize with either calcium binding proteins (CaBPs). Immunolabeling for CaBPs revealed the presence of different neuronal populations, which were concentrated in variously pronounced tiers. Contrary to CART, the CaBPs immunoreactivity in perikarya was relatively high and CaBPs containing neurons displayed a variety of sizes and somatodendritic morphologies. Generally, CaBPs patterns in the SCs of the guinea pig differ, to some extent, from those of other rodents. These results prove the importance of studying the neurochemical cytoarchitecture of diverse mammals.

Distribution and chemical coding pattern of somatostatin immunoreactivity in the dorsal striatum of the guinea pig

The present study provides a detailed description of somatostatin (SOM) distribution and the colocalization pattern of SOM, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the dorsal striatum (caudate-putamen complex) of the guinea pig. Within the dorsal striatum, SOM is found in a population of medium-sized aspiny interneurons. We found that 97% of all SOM-IR neurons expressed NPY simultaneously, while 98% of all NPY-ergic perikarya was simultaneously SOM-IR. On the other hand, while 98% of all SOM-IR cells were simultaneously NOS-IR, only 91% of all NOS-containing neurons exhibited SOM-immunoreactivity. Irrespective of their chemical coding, both types of SOM-IR neurons were scattered throughout the dorsal striatum, sometimes in the form of small, loosely arranged clusters of 2-4 cells. While SOM-IR and NPY-IR nerve fibers were present in all of the studied regions, they were more numerous in the ventro-medial part of the studied structure, with the exception of its caudal portion, where SOM-IR and NPY-IR fibers additionally formed a dense network in the part corresponding to the caudate nucleus. A low expression of staining for NOS-IR fibers was seen throughout the entire dorsal striatum. In some fibers, SOM and NPY were co-expressed. Fibers expressing both SOM and NOS were not found.

A MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE GENICULATE BODIES IN SELECTED MAMMALIAN SPECIES

Abstract Unbiased stereological methods were used to examine and compare morphometrically the geniculate bodies (GB) in representatives of four mammalian orders (Insectivora, Rodentia, Lagomorpha, and Carnivora). The significant disproportion was observed between the relative sizes of both geniculate nuclei and their neuronal populations in the common shrew and the bank vole. The medial geniculate body (MGB) in the common shrew definitely surpassed the lateral geniculate body (LGB) in terms of percentage volume and percentage number of neurons. The volume of the GB and their nuclei correlated with their mean neuronal populations, whereas the negative correlation was observed between volumes and neuronal density; however, not as distinct as in the non-sensory brain structures. In all examined species, the LGB always had a higher numerical density than the MGB, while the MGB neurons were always distinctly larger than that of the LGB, which clearly differentiated both neuronal complexes. Analysis of these data shows that the GB differs in terms of the morphometric characteristics in the studied species.