Localization of CART-positive neurons in amygdala and the dependence of their immuno-reactivity on the concentration of sex steroids

Abstract

During the study of all nuclear and paleocortical structures of amygdala, the CART-peptide (cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript) expressing neurons were for the first time demonstrated in this region, and their immunoreactivity was shown to be influenced by sex steroids. Immunocytochemical reaction was performed on frontal slices of adult rat brain (7 female rats in estrus stage, 7 female rats in metestrus stage and 7 male rats). The portion of immunopositive neurons in animals in estrus and metestrus was counted in relation to their numbers in adjoining slices (stained using Nissl's method). The relative number of immunoreactive neurons in dorsomedial, posterior cortical nuclei and latero-capsular subnucleus of the central nucleus was found to be significantly greater in estrus than in metestrus. The data obtained show that olfactory and integrative centers of amygdala may be involved in the pathogenesis of drug addiction and indicate the possibility of development of new effective methods of gene therapy with the application of an intranasal route of drug delivery.

Keywords

amygdala / CART-peptide / sex steroids / drug addiction

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