MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF VASOPRESSIN AND VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL POLYPEPTIDE NEURONS IN THE HUMAN SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS - INFLUENCE OF MICROWAVE TREATMENT

The vasopressin (VP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-expre ssing neurons in the human suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) were morphome trically determined with or without microwave (MW) treatment. Both an enlarged volume and an increased number of neurons were found in the V P and VIP subnucleus of the SCN following MW treatment. The staining o f VIP neurons by MW treatment improved much more than that of the VP n eurons. Without MW treatment the VP- and VIP-expressing neurons were l ocalized mainly in the central part of the subnuclei, whereas by incre asing the sensitivity of the staining by MW treatment more neurons bec ame visible, particularly in the peripheral areas of the subnuclei.