title: Neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity is preferentially located in rat lumbar sexually dimorphic nuclei.
abstract: The distribution of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) was examined in the ventral gray lumbar spinal cord of male and female rats. Fibers containing NPY-LI were distributed in a sexually dimorphic manner in three motor nuclei: the male cremaster nucleus (CN), spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) and the dorsolateral nucleus, pars medialis (mDLN) receive a greater number of fibers with NPY-LI than females. Fibers with NPY-LI had the following ratios: males, mDLN greater than or equal to SNB greater than CN greater than dorsolateral nucleus, pars lateralis (1DLN) greater than remaining lumbar ventral gray horn motoneurons (VGH); females, mDLN greater than or equal to SNB greater than or equal to CN greater than VGH greater than or equal to 1DLN. In addition, a previously undescribed small column of motoneurons, located between mDLN and SNB, is outlined by fibers which contain NPY-LI in both sexes. The role of NPY in lumbar sexually dimorphic nuclei is presently unknown.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Monroe Community Hospital, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14603.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hamill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012737:Sex Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y