title: Immunohistochemical distribution of corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP) immunoreactivity in the human brain.
abstract: The immunocytochemical distribution of CLIP (corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide) or ACTH(18-39), a small biologically active peptide, was examined in the human brain, using a monoclonal antibody against this peptide. Groups of CLIP-immunoreactive cell bodies, small to medium size and bipolar or triangular in shape, were found in the basal hypothalamus extending from the retrochiasmatic region to the premammillary nuclei area. Immunoreactive fibers with varicosities, terminals and "pipe shape" structures, were distributed within the hypothalamus, limbic structures, the brainstem and spinal cord nuclei, forming a particularly rich network in the hypothalamus, the preoptic area, the septal region, the amygdala and the upper brainstem periaqueductal gray matter. The above neuroanatomical observations confirm and extend previous findings in animals, strengthening even more the possibility that this peptide may be involved in numerous behavioral, autonomic and physiological functions such as regulation of sleep-waking cycle, pain control and respiratory and cardiovascular regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, I.U.P.G., Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaphiropoulos
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Charnay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Constantinidis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouras
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D053497:Corticotropin-Like Intermediate Lobe Peptide; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000737:chemistry; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000737:chemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D011149:Pons / Q000737:chemistry; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D053497:Corticotropin-Like Intermediate Lobe Peptide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone