Eur J Anat, 5 (3): 159-169 (2001)

Neuropeptides in the cat diencephalon: I. Thalamus

Covenas R., De Leon M., Belda M., Marcos P., Narvaez J.A., Aguirre J.A., Tramu G., Gonzalez-Baron S.

INCYL, Lab. Neuroanat. Sist. Peptidergicos, Facultad de Medicina, C/ Alfonso X El Sabio s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain

ABSTRACT In this paper we review the distribution and functions of neuropeptides in the cat thalamus. We focus our review on the following topics: 1) the distribution of neuropeptides in the cat thalamus; 2) the coexistence of neuropeptides in the cat thalamus; 3) the anatomical relationships between neuropeptides in the cat thalamus; 4) the peptidergic pathways in the cat thalamus; 5) a comparison of the distribution of neuropeptides in the mammalian thalamus; and 6) the physiological functions of neuropeptides in the cat thalamus. Although in recent years our knowledge of the distribution of neuropeptides in the cat thalamus has increased considerably, there still remains much to do in this feline brain region in order to know the distribution of other neuropeptides, the physiological interactions among them, the afferent and efferent peptidergic pathways, and the physiological roles of such neuropeptides. In the future, other methods (e.g., in situ hybridization, tract-tracing...) in addition to immunocytochemical methods should be used in the cat thalamus to increase our knowledge of the neuropeptides in this diencephalic region.

Keywords: alpha intermedin, beta endorphin, cholecystokinin octapeptide, delta sleep inducing peptide, metenkephalin, neuropeptide, neuropeptide Y, pancreas polypeptide, somatostatin 14, somatostatin 28, cat, diencephalon, immunocytochemistry, immunolocalization, nonhuman, peptidergic nervous system, radioimmunoassay, review, thalamus