The ACTH-immunoreactive system in the brain of the white-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii (Passeriformes, Emberizidae).
The ACTH-immunoreactive (ir) system of the avian brain is particularly conspicuous in the male white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii). The irperikaryal population is concentrated mainly within the tuberal region, projecting primarily in a dorsal direction: (i) into the striatum; (ii) into rostral diencephalic, septal, hyperstriatal, and thalamic areas; and (iii) into dorsal and ventral areas of the brain stem. Ir-fibers seemingly contact local non-immunoreactive neurons mainly in the accumbens nucleus, septum, dorsal thalamic nuclei, infundibular and interpeduncular nuclei, and in the rostral diencephalon. Neurohemal zones are not supplied by ACTH-ir terminals. Immunocytochemical problems arising from the complexity of the proopiomelanocortin molecule and its derived peptide components are discussed in relation to phylogenetically directed studies, and contradictory results.
Blähser
S
S
Institute of Anatomy and Cytobiology, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone