title: Distribution of immunoreactive dynorphin B in discrete areas of the rat brain and spinal cord.
abstract: The distribution of immunoreactive (ir)-dynorphin B in 101 microdissected rat brain and spinal cord regions was determined using a specific radioimmunoassay. The highest concentration of dynorphin B in brain was found in the substantia nigra (1106.2 fmol/mg protein). Very high concentrations of ir-dynorphin B (greater than 400 fmol/mg protein) were also found in the lateral preoptic area, parabrachial nuclei and globus pallidus. Relatively high concentrations of ir-dynorphin B (250-400 fmol/mg protein) were found in 19 nuclei, including the periaqueductal gray matter, anterior hypothalamic nucleus, median eminence, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. Moderate levels of the peptide (between 100 and 250 fmol/mg protein) were found in 42 brain nuclei such as the perifornical nucleus, nucleus of the diagonal band, medial forebrain bundle, and dorsal premamillary nucleus. Low concentrations of ir-dynorphin B (less than 100 fmol/mg protein) were found in 28 brain areas, e.g. cerebral cortical structures (parietal, cingulate, frontal), claustrum, olfactory bulb, lateral and periventricular thalamic nuclei. The cerebellar cortex has the lowest dynorphin B concentration (53.7 fmol/mg protein). Spinal cord segments exhibit low or moderate (cervical segment) levels of the peptide. The neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary gland is extremely rich in ir-dynorphin B (11,047.1 fmol/mg protein).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000032:analysis; D004399:Dynorphins; D004723:Endorphins; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000032:analysis; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000032:analysis; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000032:analysis; D011149:Pons / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D004399:Dynorphins; C036200:rimorphin