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Analysis of the ontogeny of galanin in the rat central nervous system by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay
Author(s) -
Sizer A. R.,
Ro̊kaeus Å.,
Foster G. A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(90)90025-w
Subject(s) - galanin , ontogeny , immunohistochemistry , radioimmunoassay , central nervous system , biology , neuroscience , neuropeptide , endocrinology , immunology , receptor , biochemistry
The development of galanin‐like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system has been investigated immunologically. Galanin‐positive processes in the central nervous system were first recognized at day 1 post‐natal, in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. At day 2, the first galaninimmunoreactive neuronal somata were visualized in several regions of the diencephalon; at later stages of maturation positive cells were also detected in many brain stem areas. The number, density and staining intensity of galanin‐positive structures in these and other regions increased steadily until day 28, by which age the adult disposition was attained. Increases in the concentrations of galanin‐like immunoreactivity during maturation of the animals closely paralleled the immunohistochemical findings. No reduction in galanin‐like immunoreactivity was noted in any area during later post‐natal ages. The present study indicates that the ontogeny of galanin‐like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system occurs entirely post‐natally. The developmental profile is consistent with the rôle of galanin as a putative neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in the rat brain and spinal cord.