Electron-microscopic cytochemistry of the catecholaminergic innervation of ACTH-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.
The synaptic relationship between catecholamine terminals and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-containing neurons in the arcuate nucleus (AN) of the rat hypothalamus was investigated by electron microscopy, using ACTH immunocytochemistry combined with autoradiography after 3H-dopamine (3H-DA) injection or 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA) uptake in the same tissue section. ACTH-like (ACTH-LI) immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and fibers received synaptic inputs by axon terminals labeled with 3H-DA or 5-OHDA in the AN. This suggests that catecholaminergic neurons, at least DA- and 5-OHDA-containing neurons, may play an important role in the regulation of ACTH secretion or other functions of ACTH neurons via synapses in the AN of the rat hypothalamus.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001345:Autoradiography; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; C027802:5-hydroxydopamine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D004298:Dopamine