Distribution of substance P, somatostatin and neurotensin in the human hypothalamus.

The distribution of substance P, somatostatin and neurotensin in the human hypothalamus was studied by radioimmunoassay analysis of 11 nuclei and areas within the hypothalamus, in 10 human post-mortem cases. The samples were microdissected according to a recently developed standardized method. Substance P was present in higher concentrations both rostrally in the hypothalamus, and ventrally. Somatostatin was found predominantly in the basal tuberal region, and neurotensin in the anterior hypothalamic area. The chromatographic behaviour of human hypothalamic neurotensin is also presented.