Distribution of Neuropeptide Y-Immunoreactive Neurons in the Human Brainstem, Cerebellum, and Cortex During Development

Abstract

1. Neuropeptide Y is found throughout the central nervous system where it appears to play a wide range of often poorly understood functions. In this study, the distribution of neuropeptide Y immunoreactive (NPY-ir) neurons in the brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex of human fetuses ranging in age from 11 gestational weeks to term was investigated by immunohistochemistry. 2. The NPY-ir cells were detected in the dorsal and ventral rostral midbrain and the interpeduncular nucleus by 21 weeks and 32 weeks of gestation, respectively. Although no positive cells were found in the pons, the NPY-ir fibers were detected there at 32 gestational weeks. 3. The vagal, hypoglossal, and olivary nuclei of the medulla oblongata contained immunoreactive cells by week 21 and the medullary reticular formation by week 25 of gestation. In most of these locations, both the number and size of neuropeptide Y positive cells were greater at birth and reached maximal values of 100-400 cells per 1 mm2 and 2-5 microm in diameter, respectively. 4. In the cerebellum, numerous NPY-ir horizontal and granule cells, as well as the cells within the dentate nucleus were observed as early as 21 weeks of gestation. 5. The NPY-ir cells were also detected in the developing cerebral cortex, with the earliest activity observed within the temporal cortex at 14 weeks of gestation. By week 21, positive cells appeared in the visual, frontal, sensory, and motor cortices. Most of these cells were bipolar or multipolar in morphology but their numbers at birth were relatively low. 6. Our results show a wide distribution of the NPY-ir cells in the developing human brain and offer supporting evidence for the important modulatory role of NPY in both the fetus and adult.

Localization of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A positive cells in the brainstems of control age-matched and Alzheimer individuals

“…Finally, although many transmitters have been documented in the human brainstem (Li et al 2007;Lorke et al 2003;Shen et al 1989;Tiu et al 1993;Wai et al 2004;Yew et al 1990Yew et al , 1991Yew et al , 1992Yew et al , 1996Yew et al , 1999cYew and Chan 1999), results have been scattered along the cortex and different nuclei, which has made correlation difficult. For example, it had been documented that many sites in the medulla contained catecholaminergic neurons (Lorke et al 2003) and NPY positive cells (Wai et al 2004), while the midbrain raphe nucleus and reticular formation contained serotonin cells (Shen et al 1989). However, attempting to colocalize specific types of neurons in this study with different transmitters resulted in finding that only the cholinergic neurons have serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, while on the other hand, GABAergic fibers innervated 5-HT2A positive neurons.…”

Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Modulates Enteric Neuronal Survival and Proliferation Through Neuropeptide Y

“…Total RNA was isolated using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen). 0.92 μg of total RNA was used to synthesize first strand cDNA using the Omniscript Reverse Transcription Kit and Oligo (dT) [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] primers according to recommended procedure. The NPY and GAPDH primers used for semi-quantitative and real-time PCR quantification of the NPY and GAPDH messages have been described previously 39 .…”

“…PYY and PP are primarily synthesized and released from endocrine cells of the gut and pancreas, respectively, whereas NPY is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system during development and adulthood [15][16][17][18] . By embryonic day E-13, the entire length of the fetal murine bowel contains NPY-staining neurons 19 .…”

Neuropeptide Y in Rat Spiral Ganglion Neurons and Inner Hair Cells of Organ of Corti and Effects of a Nontraumatic Acoustic Stimulation

“…NPY immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies and fibers were previously described in brain stem nuclei like olivary, trigeminal, and solitary tract nuclei as well as in specific population of brain stem catecholaminergic neurons of the rat (Lawrence, Castillo-Melendez, McLean, & Jarrott, 1998;Lazarov 2002;Murakami, Okamura, Pelletier, & Ibata, 1989;Wai, Kindler, Lam, Zhang, & Yew, 2004).…”