Distribution and morphology of the catecholaminergic neural elements in the human hypothalamus

摘要: Previous studies have demonstrated that catecholaminergic, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (IR) perikarya and fibers are widely distributed in the human hypothalamus. Since TH is key rate-limiting enzyme for catecholaminergic synthesis, these IR neurons may represent dopaminergic, noradrenergic or adrenergic neural elements. However, distribution morphology of neurotransmitter systems hypothalamus not entirely known. different can be detected by identifying containing specific enzymes present study we mapped elements using immunohistochemistry against enzymes, TH, dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT). Only a few, PNMT-IR, neuronal were found mainly infundibulum periventricular zone. DBH-IR structures more occupying chiefly infundibulum/infundibular nucleus, area, supraoptic paraventricular nuclei. Dopaminergic utilizing double label immunohistochemistry. First, visualized; then TH-IR structures, lack DBH, with chromogen. In our study, conclude all majority dopaminergic Due to extremely small number hypothalamus, almost exclusively processes. These findings suggest juxtapositions between numerous peptidergic revealed previous reports indicate mostly synapses.