title: The postnatal developmental localization of pro-opiomelanocortin and alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone in the medio-basal hypothalamus of the rat.
abstract: This immunocytochemical study of the late postnatal development of the medio-basal hypothalamus revealed the presence of ACTH 1-39 like positivity in neurons of the arcuate nucleus form the begin of this study (day E 18-20) onwards. Alpha MSH positivity, on the contrary, is not present in cells of the same area before day P 16. No other areas in the developing medio-basal hypothalamus contain perikaryal positivity for alpha M-SH or ACTH 1-39. The pituitary contains ACTH 1-39 like positivity from the begin of this study (day E 18-20) onwards. Fibers are positive for alpha MSH during the fetal development of the medio-basal hypothalamus, demonstrating an overal reactivity without varicosities and restricted to bundles or neuropil areas. Towards P 16 the alpha MSH positivity diminishes in the whole medio-basal hypothalamus, remaining present only in large fibre systems like the fornix. ACTH 1-39 like fiber positivity is already distributed in arcuate and periventricular regions at days E 20-PO, reaching its mature extension at day P2. After P16 alpha MSH positive threads, possessing varicosities are restricted to the same areas as ACTH 1-39 like fiber positivity is.
authors.affiliation: Neuroregulation group, Laboratory Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marani
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: van der Veeken
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003078:Colchicine