Enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in neurons in the human pineal gland.
Adult human pineal glands were prepared for immunohistochemical analysis using antisera against Leu-enkephalin, neuropeptide Y, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The material shows small neurons located in septae and along the capsule of the gland which exhibit enkephalin-like immunoreactivity. The neurons have fairly extensive dendritic arbors and immunoreactive axons are present in the septae and beneath the capsule, particularly in a perivascular location, and occasionally extend into lobules of the gland among parenchymal cells. No consistent immunoreactivity was observed with other antisera but bundles of axons exhibiting dopamine-beta-hydroxylase or neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity are observed in some of the material in a perivascular location.
Moore
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Department of Neurology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
Sibony
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
D004745:Enkephalins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase