Localization of corticotropin-releasing factor, somatostatin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the parabrachial nuclei of the human brain.
The immunocytochemical localizations of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), somatostatin (SRIF), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were studied in the human parabrachial nuclei (PBN) using the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) technique. The brains were obtained from seven adult male human subjects of 38-74 years. In three cases, the brains were fixed within 2 hr, in four cases within 5 hr, postmortem. All of these peptides were detected in fibers through the orocaudal extent of the lateral PBN, whereas the medial nucleus contained only CRF immunoreactive fibers. Immunoreactive fibers were distributed unevenly within the lateral nucleus with the highest density in the dorsal and much fewer in the ventral part of the lateral subdivision. The highest to lowest density of immunostained processes were detected using CRF, SRIF, and VIP antisera, respectively. Since NPB is known as an important relay nucleus for the central autonomic pathway, the presence of the above noted neuropeptides in nerve fibers in this area may suggest a neurotransmitter or neuromodulatory role of CRF, somatostatin, and VIP in certain autonomic nervous mechanism of the human brain.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000032:analysis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone