Distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity in the brain of the lizard Podarcis hispanica

The present work studies the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive (CGRP-li) neurons and fibers in the brain of a reptile, the lizard Podarcis hispanica. CGRP-li perikarya were not present in the telencephalon. In the thalamus, CGRP-li perikarya were restricted to the posteromedial and posterolateral nuclei. In the hypothalamus, CGRP-li cells were found mainly in the supramammillary and mammillary nuclei. In the midbrain and brainstem, CGRP-li cells appeared in the ventral tegmental area, the parabrachial nucleus, and the motor nuclei of the III–VII, IX, X, and XII cranial nerves. Motoneurons of the ventral horn of the spinal cord were also immunoreactive for CGRP. CGRP-li fibers were seen in the telencephalic hemispheres, where a dense plexus of reactive fibers appeared in the septum and in the lateral striatoamygdaloid transition area. From the latter, CGRP-li fibers entered the posterior dorsal ventricular ridge, the cell layer and deep stratum of the ventral lateral cortex, and various amygdaloid nuclei. Parts of the striatum (nucleus accumbens) and pallidum also displayed CGRP-li innervation. In the diencephalon, CGRP-li innervation was observed in parts of the dorsal thalamus and in the periventricular and medial hypothalamus. The pretectum and deep layers of the optic tectum also showed CGRP-li fibers, and numerous CGRP-li fibers were observed in the midbrain central gray, tegmentum, and pons. Some of the sensory fibers of the trigeminal, vagal, and spinal nerves were also CGRP-li. These results show that the distribution of CGRP-li structures in the reptilian brain is similar to that described for other vertebrates and suggest that the thalamotelencephalic CGRPergic projections appear to be conserved among amniote vertebrates