Subcellular distribution of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in guinea pig neocortex.

Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) was enriched in synaptosomal fractions of neocortex, which on lysis yielded vesicle-rich fractions. The distribution of NPY-LI on a sucrose density gradient was similar to that of somatostatin, with a concentration in heavy vesicles. The peptides were not found in light vesicles in contrast to the distribution of noradrenaline. Both homogenate and vesicular NPY-LI coeluted with synthetic NPY on reverse-phase HPLC.