Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity selectively labels accessory optic nuclei and pathways of the rat visual system.
The present study shows the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunolabeled neuronal somata and fibers in the accessory optic system of adult rats. CGRP-immunoreactive cell bodies were small to medium-sized and mostly fusiform or oval-shaped. Both immunolabeled somata and fibers were found in the dorsal and lateral terminal nuclei as well as in the interstitial nucleus of the superior fasciculus (posterior fibers); whereas only immunoreactive fibers were found in the ventral division of the medial terminal nucleus, particularly its rostral portion. These results indicate that CGRP-containing neurons are present in all nuclear components of the accessory optic system and suggest that this neuropeptide may play a neuromodulative role in eye movements.
Ribak
C E
CE
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, 92697, USA. ceribak@uci.edu
Yan
X X
XX
Giolli
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide