Stress-induced expression of co-localized neuropeptides in hypothalamic and amygdaloid neurons

This short review summarizes the effect of various stressful stimuli on the expression of neuropeptides which co-localize in corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH)-synthesizing neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucl eus, as well as in oxytocin and vasopressin neurons in the supraoptic nucle us. Stress-induced changes failed to act on CRH neurons in the central amyg daloid nucleus but formalin-evoked pain enhanced galanin mRNA expression in the medial subdivision of this nucleus. Changes in the expression of enkep halin. galanin, dynorphin and cholecystokinin mRNA in response to restraint and formalin-induced pain are documented in hypothalamic and amygdaloid nu clei by in situ hybridization histochemical technique. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.