Spexin-expressing neurons in the magnocellular nuclei of the human hypothalamus.
J Chem Neuroanat
; 111: 101883, 2021 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33161073
ABSTRACT
Neuropeptides are involved in numerous brain activities being responsible for a wide spectrum of higher mental functions. The purpose of this concise, structural and qualitative investigation was to map the possible immunoreactivity of the novel neuropeptide spexin (SPX) within the human magnocellular hypothalamus. SPX is a newly identified peptide, a natural ligand for the galanin receptors (GALR) 2/3, with no molecular structure similarities to currently known regulatory factors. SPX seems to have multiple physiological functions, with an involvement in reproduction and food-intake regulation recently revealed in animal studies. For the first time we describe SPX expressing neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the human hypothalamus using immunohistochemical and fluorescent methods, key regions involved in the mechanisms of osmotic homeostasis, energy expenditure, consummatory behaviour, reproductive processes, social recognition and stress responses. The vast majority of neurons located in both examined neurosecretory nuclei show abundant SPX expression and this may indirectly implicate a potential contribution of SPX signalling to the hypothalamic physiology in the human brain.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Peptide Hormones
/
Receptors, Galanin
/
Hypothalamus
/
Neurons
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Chem Neuroanat
Journal subject:
ANATOMIA
/
NEUROLOGIA
/
QUIMICA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article