title: Neuropeptide W-immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and pituitary of the rat.
abstract: Neuropeptide W-23 (NPW23) and neuropeptide W-30 (NPW30) are 23- and 30-amino acid peptides recently isolated from the porcine hypothalamus. Immunohistochemical studies using a rabbit polyclonal antiserum against the rat NPW23 peptide revealed a limited distribution in the rat brain. NPW23-immunoreactive (irNPW) cells were detected in the paraventricular nucleus (PVH), mainly in the parvocellular division, supraoptic nucleus (SO), accessory neurosecretory nuclei, dorsal and lateral hypothalamic areas, perifornical nucleus, arcuate nucleus, and anterior and posterior pituitary; whereas, irNPW fibers were noted in the PVH and SO, retrochiasmatic nucleus, dorsal and lateral hypothalamic areas, median eminence, amygdala, and posterior pituitary. The pattern of distribution of irNPW in the hypothalamus corroborates a possible role of NPW on prolactin release and feeding behavior reported by others.
authors.affiliation: James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70577, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Siok L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dun
authors.forename: G Cristina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brailoiu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jaw Kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nae J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides