title: Sex-specific response of the vasopressin-reacting neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus following chronic administration of met-enkephalin.
abstract: Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical technique, a morphometric study of the magnocellular neurons of the Paraventricular nucleus of the rat hypothalamus, reactive to specific anti-vasopressin rabbit serum, was made. Following systemic and chronic administration of met-enkephalin the number of immunoreactive neurons was higher, especially in females. Additionally, in the females, it was possible to observe an increase in the immunoreactivity and the presence of well-stained fibres. These findings suggest, especially in females, a blockage in the release of vasopressin, facilitating its immunocytochemical visualization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carretero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Riesco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Juanes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine