title: Distribution and quantification of immunoreactive orexin A in rat tissues.
abstract: A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for orexin A was developed. Orexin A immunoreactivity was found to be confined to the central nervous system (CNS) with the highest concentrations in the hypothalamus, inferior and superior colliculi and brainstem. Within the hypothalamus, the highest levels were found in the lateral and posterior hypothalamus. These regions had a greater orexin A content in females compared to males. The orexin A content of hypothalamic regions did not change with fasting and no difference was noted in hypothalami of rats fed a high fat diet. The hypothalamic orexin A content was not different in obese Zucker rats compared to lean controls. Thus, orexin A has a wide distribution in the CNS, but appetite regulation may not be its main function.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Opacka-Juffry
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghatei
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000068797:Orexins; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins