A quantitative and morphometric evaluation of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin binding in the rat hypothalamus

摘要: The distribution of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX), a putative nicotinic cholinergic receptor ligand was studied both in vitro and vivo the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), anterior hypothalamic area (AHA), supraoptic (SON) hypothalamus. For studies 20 micron frozen frontal sections containing SCN were incubated with either radioligand or, unlabeled alpha-BTX plus 125I tissues processed for light microscopic autoradiography. Areas cresyl violet stained measured using Bioquant Analysis System grain counts distributions determined. investigations third ventricular infusion alpha-BTX, or performed, 24 hours later animals perfused pericardially 1 serial plastic Localization silver grains evaluated double blind study. In labeling patterns hypothalamus same compared well previously examined paraffin-processed from which had received infusions neurotoxin. We observed distinctive specific pattern SCN. Grains tended to localize diffusely uniformly more rostral regions, but clustered densely dorsal lateral mid-SCN, dorsally mid-caudal localized where larger neurons found. most caudal regions no observed. Tissues did not demonstrate above background levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)