Neuropeptides in striato-nigral pathways.
The existence of a neuronal pathway containing Leu-enkephalin and connecting the neostriatum with the globus pallidus has been confirmed combining immunohistochemistry with microinjections of neurotoxic agents (kainic acid, colchicine) and discrete knife lesions. The presence of substance P in nerve terminals of the substantia nigra was demonstrated by the application of a monoclonal antibody against this peptide. Electron microscopic studies revealed immunoreactive sites for substance P in nerve terminals establishing symmetric and asymmetric synapses, mainly over dendritic profiles. The possible peptide-containing neuronal pathways in the nigro-striatal system are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002999:Clone Cells; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000502:physiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000502:physiology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013373:Substance P / Q000502:physiology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000502:physiology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D013373:Substance P; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D007608:Kainic Acid