IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION STUDY OF NEUROPEPTIDE-Y NEURONS IN THE RAT-BRAIN AND PELVIC PARACERVICAL GANGLION

The distribution of mRNA encoding neuropeptide Y in cells of the rat p elvic paracervical ganglion was studied by the use of in situ hybridiz ation with a neuropeptide Y oligodeoxynucleotide probe. The specificit y of the hybridization signal was assessed on brain sections and the n eurons expressing neuropeptide Y mRNA were actually found in several d iscrete brain regions already described for containing neuropeptide Y neurons. The present study reports the first demonstration of the pres ence of neuropeptide Y transcripts in nerve cell bodies and small inte nsively fluorescent (SIF)-like cells of the pelvic paracervical gangli on, thus providing evidence that neuropeptide Y is synthesized in thes e two cell types. In addition, a quantitative analysis shows a differe ntial pattern of expression of the peptide mRNA in nerve cell bodies t hroughout the ganglion.