Evidence that urocortin is absent from neurons of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus in pigeons

Autor(es)

J.A. Cavani ^[1] ; A. Reiner ^[2] ; S.L. Cuthbertson ^[3] ; J.C. Bittencourt ^[4] ; C.A.B. Toledo ^[5]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade Cidade de São Paulo. Laboratório de Neurociências - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Cidade de São Paulo. Laboratório de Neurociências - Brasil

^[3] The University of Tennessee. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology - Estados Unidos

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Departamento de Anatomia - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Cidade de São Paulo. Laboratório de Neurociências - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 36, n. 12, p. 1695-1700, 2003-12-00.

Resumo

The Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EWN) is a central preganglionic parasympathetic cell group that gives rise to cholinergic input to the ciliary ganglion, thereby regulating several neurovegetative ocular functions. Recently, the supposed presence of the neuropeptide urocortin (UCN) has been reported in EWN neurons in rodent brain. The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution of UCN in avian brain and to investigate by immunohistochemical analysis the possible use of this substance as an EWN marker in a non-mammalian class of vertebrates. Brain tissue of pigeons was incubated with a specific antibody against UCN and the results showed labeling of many small neurons, forming a double wing in the dorsal mesodiencephalic transition area. Their size and shape, however, differed from those of EWN neurons, and they were preferentially located rostral to the EWN. Double-label experiments employing an antibody against the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) showed that UCN is not localized to the cholinergic cells of the EWN and confirmed the rostral distributionof UCN never overlapping the ChAT+ EWN cells. Taken together, these results suggest that, at least in pigeons, the UCN+ population does not belong to the traditionally defined EWN. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 00/04536-2 - Organização funcional dos sistemas glutamatérgico e serotonérgico nas áreas visuais subcorticais envolvidas nos reflexos oculares
• Beneficiário: Sandra Regina Mota Ortiz
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 02/01919-3 - Determinação do padrão de expressão de urocortina no núcleo de Edinger-Westphal em aves
• Beneficiário: Juliana Alves Cavani
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica