DISTRIBUTION OF SUBSTANCE-P IMMUNOREACTIVE FIBERS IN RAT CENTRAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM

A detailed account of the distribution of immunoreactive substance P‐containing structures in the rat central nervous system is presented, from results obtained by applying an indirect immunofluorescent technique. High densities of substance P‐containing nerve terminals were present in sensory nuclei and other non‐sensory structures such as thalamus, hypothalamus and extrapyramidal system. Substance P‐reactive neuron cell bodies were present in spinal root ganglia, nucleus habenulae medialis, nucleus interpeduncularis, caudoputamen and globus pallidus. Most of the neocortex and the cerebellar cortices had no substance P‐positive elements. The results support the hypothesis that substance P may be a widespread neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Copyright © 1978 The Wistar Institute Press