Mapping of cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) mRNA expression in the hypothalamus of elderly human

The expression of cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) in th e hypothalamus of aged humans was studied by in situ hybridization histoche mistry. Formalin fixed coronal sections through the hypothalamus were hybri dized with [S-35]dATP 3' end-labeled deoxyoligonucleotide probes complement ary to sequences of the CART encoding gene. Large populations of cells expr essing CART messenger RNA were mainly detected in the paraventricular nucle us of the hypothalamus. Other hypothalamic subdivisions displaying numerous radiolabeled cells were the dorsomedial, ventromedial, infundibular and tu beromammillary nuclei, and the dorsal hypothalamic area. Additionally, a fe w labeled cells were observed in the perifornical and lateral hypothalamic areas. Hybridizing cells were occasionally seen in the supraoptic nucleus. Overall, the pattern of distribution of CART expressing cells observed thro ughout the human hypothalamus. with few exception, e.g. the supraoptic nucl eus, is comparable to that previously reported in the rat brain. These anat omical results suggest that in human, hypothalamic CART expression could be involved a variety of neuroendocrine functions including food-intake. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.