A SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC POPULATION OF GALANIN-LIKE NEURONS IN THE RAT LUMBAR SPINAL-CORD - FUNCTIONAL IMPLICATIONS

The rat lumbar spinal cord contains a population of galanin- and chole cystokinin-containing neurons which are located dorsolateral to the ce ntral canal and project to the thalamus. New data are presented herein which reveal that the number of these neurons, as shown by galanin-li ke immunostaining, is sexually dimorphic with males containing 62% mor e of these neurons than females. This is the first demonstration of a sexually dimorphic population of intraspinal neurons which projects to higher CNS centers rather than to peripheral targets.