Volume 55 (2005) Issue: 2005 No#5-6

Immunochistochemical distributions of neuropeptide Y and neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor in the rat lumbal spinal cord

Author(s): Nazli M

Keywords:neuropeptide Y, neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor, pain, spinal cord

A N - terminal sequence of the rat neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptor was used as a novel antigen to raise polyclonal antisera in rabbits. Immunocytochemical staining was used to compare the distribution of NPY and NPY Y1 receptors in the rat’s lumbal spinal cord. The NPY Y1 receptor antibody stained a narrow band in lamina (L) II of the superficial dorsal horn. The pattern of staining was more widespread being particularly clear in deeper laminae (LIII-IV). By comparison with the localization of the receptor, neuropeptide Y was more widely distributed throughout the dorsal horn. Normally, primary afferent fibres do not contain neuropeptide Y. Several neuropeptide Y receptors have been identified and our results suggest that neuropeptide Y released in the dorsal horn acts as neuropeptide Y receptorss in addition to Y1.