title: Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide-immunopositive neuronal elements in the lateral septum: rostrocaudal distribution in the male rat.
abstract: The morphological features and distribution of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide immunoreactivity (CART-IR) were studied in the lateral septum (LS) of male rats using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and computer-aided densitometry. CART-IR was detected along the rostrocaudal axis of the LS in varicose axonal fibers only, although immunoreactive cell bodies and dendrites were not detected. Pericellular basket-like arrangements around immunonegative cell bodies were present. From among the targets of such pericellular baskets, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-immunopositive and NPY-immunoreactive somata were identified. Thin varicose axons were present in each section, whereas thick varicose axons were restricted to the sections of rostral position only. CART-IR was observed in varicose fibers forming a dense subependymal plexus, from which solitary varicose fibers entered the ependymal layer. The fine structure of varicosities was similar to that of other neuropeptide-containing fibers. Small varicosities established asymmetrical synaptic contacts mainly with dendrites and dendritic spines, and larger varicosities established symmetrical synapses with somata and dendritic shafts. CART-to-CART connections were not revealed. The density curve of the CART-IR along the rostrocaudal axis of LS was found to be paraboloid. CART is known as one of the most anorexigenic peptides. These results serve as basis for further physiological studies concerning the biological significance of lateral septal CART peptide in the regulation of food intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Janzsó
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valcz
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thuma
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szoke
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lendvai
authors.forename: Hajnalka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abrahám
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozicz
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halasy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein