title: Electron microscope immunocytochemical localization of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the rat brain.
abstract: In order to identify the neuronal structures as well as the intracellular organelles which contain the newly discovered brain peptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY), we have localized this peptide by immunoelectron microscopy in brain areas containing high levels of NPY. Ultrastructural studies using both the pre- and post-embedding immunoperoxidase techniques have shown that NPY-like immunoreactivity could be observed in neuronal cell bodies, dendrites and axonal processes. In terminals, the reaction product was associated with the large dense core vesicles. Only a small percentage of the positive terminals were seen making synaptic contacts. These results support the hypothesis that NPY can act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D003078:Colchicine