Catecholaminergic cells and fibers in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis identified by traditional as well as whole-mount immunohistochemistry

Cell Tissue Res. 1992 Nov;270(2):319-37. doi: 10.1007/BF00328017.

Abstract

Using traditional as well as whole-mount immunohistochemistry, we described the location of tyrosine hydroxylase- and dopamine beta hydroxylase-positive cells and fibers in the brain of the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Major catecholaminergic cell groups were in the ependyma in certain ventricular regions, along the periventricular floor in the preoptic region, within the anterior hypothalamic and lateral hypothalamic areas, and in the mesencephalic tegmental region, locus coeruleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, vagal motor nucleus, and rhombencephalic reticular formation. Major catecholaminergic fibers, tracts and varicosities included tuberohypophysial, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, isthmocortical, medullohypothalamic, and coeruleospinal systems. Although the catecholaminergic systems in A. carolinensis are similar to those in the brains of other lizards studied, there are a few species differences. Our information about A. carolinensis will be used to help localize the hypothalamic asymmetry in catecholamine metabolism previously described in this lizard.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Brain / cytology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Dopamine / physiology*
  • Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / analysis
  • Efferent Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Ependyma / cytology
  • Estrus
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Hypothalamus / cytology
  • Hypothalamus / physiology
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Lizards / anatomy & histology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis
  • Norepinephrine / physiology*
  • Ovary / innervation
  • Ovary / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Spinal Cord / anatomy & histology
  • Spinal Cord / physiology
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase
  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine