Staining of the magnocellular nuclei of the rat hypothalamus by a monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor.

Previous work has shown the vasopressin-secreting cells of the supraoptic nucleus receive a cholinergic input from a region dorsolateral to the nucleus, and that acetylcholine (ACh) activation of these cells is blocked by nicotinic antagonists. This work reports that a monoclonal antibody, directed against the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic ACh receptor isolated from Electrophorus electricus, stains certain hypothalamic cells and processes, particularly in regions associated with vasopressin-containing neurones.