title: Immunocytochemical distribution of VIP and PACAP in the rat brain stem: implications for REM sleep physiology.
abstract: Recent evidence indicates that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) might play an important role in rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) generation at the pontine level in rats. We have thus examined the immunohistochemical distribution of VIP and PACAP in the pontine and mesencephalic areas known to be involved in REMS control in rats. A dense network of VIP-immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers was found in the dorsal raphe nucleus. A large number of PACAP-positive perikarya and nerve fibers was observed in the area known as the REMS induction zone within the pontine reticular formation (PRF). The present results provide an anatomical basis to our previous functional data, and suggest that PACAPergic mechanisms within the PRF play a critical role in long-term regulation of REMS.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA.
authors.forename: Abdel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahnaou
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arluison
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaudry
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hannibal
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamon
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adrien
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourgin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide