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Localization of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive cells and fibres in the brain of the Japanese quail

Cell and Tissue Research volume 265, pages 219–230 (1991)Cite this article

Summary

In the present study, we have demonstrated, by means of the biotin-avidin method, the widespread distribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive structures throughout the whole brain of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The prosencephalic region contained the highest concentration of both NPY-containing fibres and perikarya. Immunoreactive fibres were observed throughout, particularly within the paraolfactory lobe, the lateral septum, the nucleus taeniae, the preoptic area, the periventricular hypothalamic regions, the tuberal complex, and the ventrolateral thalamus. NPY-immunoreactive cells were represented by: a) small scattered perikarya in the telencephalic portion (i.e. archistriatal, neostriatal and hyperstriatal regions, hippocampus, piriform cortex); b) medium-sized cell bodies located around the nucleus rotundus, ventrolateral, and lateral anterior thalamic nuclei; c) small clustered cells within the periventricular and medial preoptic nuclei. The brainstem showed a less diffuse innervation, although a dense network of immunopositive fibres was observed within the optic tectum, the periaqueductal region, and the Edinger-Westphal, linearis caudalis and raphes nuclei. Two populations of large NPY-containing perikarya were detected: one located in the isthmic region, the other at the boundaries of the pons with the medulla. The wide distribution of NPY-immunoreactive structures within regions that have been demonstrated to play a role in the control of vegetative, endocrine and sensory activities suggests that, in birds, this neuropeptide is involved in the regulation of several aspects of cerebral functions.

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Abbreviations

AA :

archistriatum anterius

AC :

nucleus accumbens

AM :

nucleus anterior medialis

APP :

avian pancreatic polypeptide

CNS :

centrai nervous system

CO :

chiasma opticum

CP :

commissura posterior

CPi :

cortex piriformis

DIC :

differential interferential contrast

DLAl :

nucleus dorsolateralis anterior thalami, pars lateralis

DLAm :

nucleus dorsolateralis anterior thalami, pars medialis

E :

ectostriatum

EW :

nucleus of Edinger-Westphal

FLM :

fasciculus longitudinalis medialis

GCt :

substantia grisea centralis

GLv :

nucleus geniculatus lateralis, pars ventralis

HA :

hyperstriatum accessorium

Hp :

hippocampus

HPLC :

high performance liquid chromatography

HV :

hyperstriatum ventrale

IF :

nucleus infundibularis

IO :

nucleus isthmo-opticus

IP :

nucleus interpeduncularis

IR :

immunoreactive

LA :

nucleus lateralis anterior thalami

LC :

nucleus linearis caudalis

LFS :

lamina frontalis superior

LH :

lamina hyperstriatica

LHRH :

luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

LoC :

locus coeruleus

LPO :

lobus paraolfactorius

ME :

eminentia mediana

N :

neostriatum

NC :

neostriatum caudale

NPY :

neuropeptide Y

NIII :

nervus oculomotorius

NV :

nervus trigeminus

NVI :

nervus facialis

NVIIIc :

nervus octavus, pars cochlearis

nIV :

nucleus nervi oculomotorii

nIX :

nucleus nervi glossopharyngei

nBOR :

nucleus opticus basalis (ectomamilaris)

nCPa :

nucleus commissurae pallii

nST :

nucleus striae terminalis

OM :

tractus occipitomesencephalicus

OS :

nucleus olivaris superior

PA :

palaeostriatum augmentatum

PBS :

phosphate-buffered saline

POA :

nucleus praeopticus anterior

POM :

nucleus praeopticus medialis

POP :

nucleus praeopticus periventricularis

PP :

pancreatic polypeptide

PYY :

polypeptide YY

PVN :

nucleus paraventricularis magnocellularis

PVO :

organum paraventriculare

R :

nucleus raphes

ROT :

nucleus rotundus

RP :

nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis

Rpc :

nucleus reticularis parvocellularis

RPgc :

nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis, pars gigantocellularis

RPO :

nucleus reticularis pontis oralis

SCd :

nucleus subcoeruleus dorsalis

SCv :

nucleus subcoeruleus ventralis

SCNm :

nucleus suprachiasmaticus, pars medialis

SCNl :

nucleus suprachiasmaticus, pars lateralis

SL :

nucleus septalis lateralis

SM :

nucleus septalis medialis

Ta :

nucleus tangentialis

TeO :

tectum opticum

Tn :

nucleus taeniae

TPc :

nucleus tegmenti pedunculo-pontinus, pars compacta

TSM :

tractus septo-mesencephalicus

TV :

nueleus tegmenti ventralis

VeL :

nucleus vestibularis lateralis

VLT :

nucleus ventrolateralis thalami

VMN :

nucleus ventromedialis hypothalami

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Torino, Corso Massimo D'Azeglio 52, I-10126, Torino, Italy

    N. Aste, C. Viglietti-Panzica & G. C. Panzica

  2. Department of Animal Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy

    A. Fasolo & C. Andreone

  3. Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, URA CNRS 650, University of Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France

    H. Vaudry

  4. Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Hospital Center Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada

    G. Pelletier

Authors
  1. N. Aste
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  2. C. Viglietti-Panzica
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  3. A. Fasolo
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  4. C. Andreone
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  5. H. Vaudry
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  6. G. Pelletier
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  7. G. C. Panzica
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Aste, N., Viglietti-Panzica, C., Fasolo, A. et al. Localization of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive cells and fibres in the brain of the Japanese quail. Cell Tissue Res. 265, 219–230 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398070

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398070

Key words

  • Neuropeptide Y (NPY)
  • Immunocytochemistry
  • Avian brain
  • Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica