Immunohistochemical mapping of enkephalins, NPY, CGRP, and GRP in the cat amygdala

This immunohistochemical study shows a wide distribution of neuropeptides i n the cat amygdala. Neuropeptide Y is present along the whole amygdaloid co mplex, and fibers and cell bodies containing neuropeptide Y are observed in all the nuclei studied. Leucine-enkephalin-, gastrin-releasing peptide/bom besin-, and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive fibers and perik arya are observed only in discrete nuclei of the amygdaloid complex, wherea s only fibers -but no cell bodies- containing methionine-enkephalin-Arg(6)- Gly(7)-Leu(8) have been observed. No immunoreactivity has been found for ga mma-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, dynorphin A (1-17), or galanin. These d ata are compared with those reported in the amygdala of other mammals. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.