L-dopa-immunoreactive neurons in the rat hypothalamic tuberal region
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H Okamura1, K Kitahama, N Mons
1Department of Anatomy, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Abstract:
The presence of L-DOPA-immunoreactivity is reported for the first time in the rat hypothalamic tuberal region. L-DOPA-immunoreactive neurons were demonstrated to be present in the ventrolateral part of the arcuate nucleus and periarcuate region just dorsal to the ventral surface of the brain (VLAR/PA). Weakly L-DOPA-immunostained neurons were found in the dorsomedial part of the arcuate nucleus and its neighboring periventricular nucleus (DMAR/PV). In contrast, dopamine (DA)-immunoreactive neurons were detected only in the DMAR/PV. These findings suggest that L-DOPA exists not only as a precursor of DA in neurons of the DMAR/PV, but also as an end-product in cells of the VLAR/PA.