Neuropeptide Y mRNA expression in interneurons in rat spinal cord

Neuropeptide Y (NTY)-immunoreactive axons are present within the spinal cor d. Some of these axons originate from neurons in the brainstem. Other axons arise from within the spinal cord since NPY-immunoreactivity can be detect ed after complete spinal cord transection. To identify spinal neurons that might express NPY, we localized NPY mRNA in rat spinal cord using in situ h ybridization histochemistry. NPY mRNA-containing neurons were localized in the dorsal horn, in medial laminae of the grey matter and in the lateral sp inal nucleus in thoracic, lumbar and sacral cord. The location of some of t hese neurons, and their proximity to sympathetic preganglionic neurons, sug gest some NPY-containing interneurons are likely to be involved in spinal a s well as supraspinal autonomic reflex pathways. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.