title: Distribution of neuropeptide FF in porcine spinal cord in comparison with other neuropeptides and serotonin.
abstract: A large number of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are concentrated in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they interact in a complex manner and modulate sensory mechanisms. Most studies are carried out in the rat, and little is known of other species. It is relevant to study mammals with a more complex central nervous system, because pain mechanisms are central in both human and veterinary medicine. Immunoreactivity for neuropeptide FF, an amidated octapeptide originally isolated from bovine brain, was found immunocytochemically at all levels of porcine spinal cord. In contrast to other species studied so far, the peptide immunoreactivity in porcine spinal cord was confined to the intermediolateral gray matter, especially to the intermediolateral cell column and lamina X of the gray matter. This distribution was remarkably different from that of substance P, proenkephalin A-derived peptides, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, serotonin, and neuropeptide Y. Pharmacologic administration of neuropeptide FF alters behavior in assays for analgesia. The distribution of neuropeptide FF immunoreactivity as revealed by this study suggests that there may be marked species differences in the distribution and function of the peptide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Abo Akademi University, Biocity, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wasowicz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panula
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012701:Serotonin; D013373:Substance P; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; C053651:phenylalanyl-leucyl-phenylalanyl-glutaminyl-prolyl-glutaminyl-arginyl-phenylalaninamide