Mapping of CGRP in the alpaca (Lama pacos) brainstem.
In this study, we demonstrate the presence of immunoreactive structures containing calcitonin gene-related peptide in the alpaca brainstem. This is the first time that a detailed mapping of the cell bodies and fibers containing this neuropeptide in the alpaca brainstem has been carried out using an immunocytochemical technique. Immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers were widely distributed throughout the alpaca brainstem. A high density of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive perikarya was found in the superior colliculus, the dorsal nucleus of the raphe, the trochlear nucleus, the lateral division of the marginal nucleus of the brachium conjunctivum, the motor trigeminal nucleus, the facial nucleus, the pons reticular formation, the retrofacial nucleus, the rostral hypoglossal nucleus, and in the motor dorsal nucleus of the vagus, whereas a high density of fibers containing calcitonin gene-related peptide was observed in the lateral division of the marginal nucleus of the brachium conjunctivum, the parvocellular division of the alaminar spinal trigeminal nucleus, the external cuneate nucleus, the nucleus of the solitary tract, the laminar spinal trigeminal nucleus, and in the area postrema. This widespread distribution indicates that the neuropeptide studied might be involved in multiple functions in the alpaca brainstem.
de Souza
Eliana
E
Universidad de Salamanca, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems (INCYL), Salamanca, Spain.
Coveñas
Rafael
R
Yi
Pedro
P
Aguilar
Luís Angel
LA
Lerma
Luís
L
Andrade
Roy
R
Mangas
Arturo
A
Díaz-Cabiale
Zaida
Z
Narváez
José Angel
JA
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide