title: Immunohistochemical localization of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide in the brain of the catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.).
abstract: The organization of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CARTp, 54-102) immunoreactivity was investigated in the brain of the catfish, Clarias batrachus. CARTp-immunoreactivity was observed in several granule cells of the olfactory bulbs, in dot-like terminals around mitral cells, and in the fibers of the medial olfactory tracts. While several groups of discrete cells in the telencephalon showed CARTp-immunoreactivity, the immunostained fibers were widely distributed in the area dorsalis and ventralis telencephali. Immunoreactivity was seen in several periventricular and a few magnocellular neurons, and in a dense fiber network throughout the preoptic area. Varying degrees of immunoreactive fibers were seen in the periventricular region in the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary. Some neurons in the nucleus preglomerulosus medialis and lateralis, central nucleus of the inferior lobes, nucleus lobobulbaris of the posterior tuberculum, and nucleus recessus posterioris showed distinct CARTp-immunoreactivity. Considerable immunoreactivity was seen in the optic tectum, rostral torus semicircularis, central pretectal area, and granule cells of the cerebellum. While only isolated immunoreactive cells were seen at three distinct sites in the metencephalon, a fiber network was seen in the facial and vagal lobes and periventricular and ventral regions of the medulla oblongata. The pattern of the CARTp distribution in the brain of C. batrachus suggests that it may play an important role in the processing of sensory information, the regulation of hormone secretion by hypophysial cell types, and motor and vegetative function. Finally, as in other animal species, CARTp seems to play a role in the processing of gustatory information.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Praful S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Singru
authors.forename: Minakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
authors.forename: Amul J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sakharkar
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lechan
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thim
authors.forename: Jes Thorn
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: Nishikant K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Subhedar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002397:Catfishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C428723:cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript protein (55-102); D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein