Comparative study of the neuronal populations containing β-endorphin, corticotropin and dopamine in the arcuate nucleus of the rat hypothalamus

Neurons simultaneously immunoreactive with anti-β-endorphin and anti(17–39) corticotropin (anti(17–39) ACTH) have been detected in the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus of colchicine-treated rats. These neurons are different from those fluorescent with the Flack and Hillarp technique. These results show that in the arcuate nucleus, immunoreactive ACTH and β-endorphin are stored in the same neurons which are different from dopamine-containing neurons.