Abstract
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is widely distributed in many regions of the hypothalamus including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In this study, using well-characterized antibodies against PACAP and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), we identified numerous nerve fibers with PACAP-immunoreactivity (ir) closely apposed to CRH neurons in the medial parvocellular subdivision of the rat PVN. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of synapses between PACAP-ir containing terminals and CRH-perikarya and -dendrites. These morphological observations suggest that PACAP may modulate the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adrenalectomy
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Animals
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Cell Count
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism*
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Immunohistochemistry
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Male
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Microscopy, Electron
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Nerve Fibers / chemistry
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Nerve Fibers / ultrastructure
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / ultrastructure
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Neuropeptides / metabolism*
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Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / physiology*
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Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
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Presynaptic Terminals / physiology*
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Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / analysis
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / metabolism
Substances
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Adcyap1 protein, rat
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Neuropeptides
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Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
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Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone