Morphology and laminar distribution of neuropeptide Y immunoreactive neurons in the human striate cortex.
The morphology, laminar distribution, and distribution relative to cytochrome oxidase patches of neuropeptide-Y immunoreactive (NPY-ir) neurons were studied in the human striate cortex. The density of NPY-ir cells was highest in the white matter. NPY-ir neurons were sparsely distributed within the cortical layers. NPY-ir neurons were located in both cytochrome oxidase dense patch and interpatch regions. However, the paucity of NPY-ir neurons in layer III, where cytochrome oxidase patches are most clearly demonstrated, precluded establishing a clear relationship of NPY-ir neurons to cytochrome oxidase patches. NPY-ir neurons exhibited a variety of nonpyramidal morphologies, and many of them had axons with recurrent or looped trajectories. A dense plexus of NPY-ir axons was located just beneath the pia, and these axons were concentrated at the entry points of pial blood vessels. Other NPY-ir neurons had cell bodies or processes in close proximity to cerebral capillaries. These results suggest a role of NPY in cortical metabolism, control of cerebral circulation, or activity-related changes in local blood flow.
Berman
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NE
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160.
Fredrickson
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV