title: L-dopa-immunoreactive neurons in the rat hypothalamic tuberal region.
abstract: The presence of L-DOPA-immunoreactivity is reported for the first time in the rat hypothalamic tuberal region. L-DOPA-immunoreactive neurons were demonstrated to be present in the ventrolateral part of the arcuate nucleus and periarcuate region just dorsal to the ventral surface of the brain (VLAR/PA). Weakly L-DOPA-immunostained neurons were found in the dorsomedial part of the arcuate nucleus and its neighboring periventricular nucleus (DMAR/PV). In contrast, dopamine (DA)-immunoreactive neurons were detected only in the DMAR/PV. These findings suggest that L-DOPA exists not only as a precursor of DA in neurons of the DMAR/PV, but also as an end-product in cells of the VLAR/PA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitahama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mons
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ibata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jouvet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geffard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa