Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2023196 Regulatory Peptides 2007 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

Pregnancy is accompanied by an array of adaptive changes that play an important role in pre- and postnatal events. In rats, urocortin 1, a corticotropin-releasing factor-like peptide, is expressed mainly in the non-preganglionic Edinger–Westphal nucleus. We investigated the number of neurons immunoreactive for urocortin 1 at three different levels of the Edinger–Westphal nucleus in female rats by immunohistochemistry. The number of urocortin 1 immunoreactive cells was found to be decreased in pregnant rats compared to virgin rats. These results indicate that the hormonal status of the female rat affects urocortin 1 immunoreactive neurons in the non-preganglionic Edinger–Westphal nucleus and its signaling to target brain areas.

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