Differential distribution of orexin-A and orexin-B immunoreactivity in the rat brain and spinal cord.
The orexins are recently identified appetite-stimulating hypothalamic peptides. We used immunohistochemistry to map orexin-A and orexin-B immunoreactivity in rat brain, spinal cord, and some peripheral tissues. Orexin-A- and orexin-B-immunoreactive cell bodies were confined to the lateral hypothalamic area and perifornical nuclei. Orexin-A-immunoreactive fibers were densely distributed in the hypothalamus, septum, thalamus, locus coeruleus, spinal cord, and near the ventricles, but absent from peripheral sites investigated. In contrast, orexin-B-immunoreactive fibers were distributed sparsely in the hypothalamus. Orexin cells are strategically sited to contribute to feeding regulation, but their widespread projections suggest that orexins have other physiological roles.
Cutler
D J
DJ
Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool, England. dcutler@liverpool.ac.uk
Morris
R
R
Sheridhar
V
V
Wattam
T A
TA
Holmes
S
S
Patel
S
S
Arch
J R
JR
Wilson
S
S
Buckingham
R E
RE
Evans
M L
ML
Leslie
R A
RA
Williams
G
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000068797:Orexins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins