Proopiomelanocortin in the arcuate nucleus of the rodent Meriones shawi: effects of dehydration.

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is a 36kDa glycoprotein implicated in homeostatic balance. We used in situ hybridization histochemistry coupled with quantitative autoradiography to determine the anatomical distribution of POMC mRNA-expressing neurons in the arcuate nucleus (AN) and to examine the effects of prolonged dehydration on POMC gene expression in a semi-desert rodent, Meriones shawi (Shaw's Jird). In the hypothalamus of control animals, POMC mRNA-expressing neurons were exclusively localized in the AN and they showed a differential distribution and density along its rostro-caudal subdivisions.

Differential patterns of glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunolabeling in the brain of adult lizards.

The present study describes by means of immunohistochemistry the comparative distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in the forebrain and midbrain of three species of lizards: Eumeces algeriensis, Scincoidae; Agama impalearis, Agamidae; Tarentola mauritanica, Gekkonidae. In the species studied, the different types and proportions of glial cells expressing GFAP showed considerable variation. These cells include radial glia, oval cells, tanycytes, ependymocytes, glia limitans, and astrocytes.