Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Dec 10.
Published in final edited form as: Brain Res. 2010 Aug 25;1364:116–128. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.08.059

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Schematic diagram of local projections of an arcuate NKB neuron in the rat (shaded). NKB neurons coexpress kisspeptin, dynorphin and ERα. Our tract-tracing studies showed that arcuate NKB neurons project to NKB neurons within the arcuate nucleus (bilaterally) and send projections to GnRH terminals within the median eminence. Branching of NKB axons within the arcuate nucleus and median eminence suggests that a single neuron could send collaterals to the median eminence, to the arcuate nucleus on both sides as well as other hypothalamic areas. Abbreviations: ERα, Estrogen Receptor α; DYN, Dynorphin; GnRH, gonadotropin releasing hormone; KISS, kisspeptin; ME, median eminence; NKB, neurokinin, 3V, third ventricle. This diagram is based on immunohistochemical and tract-tracing studies from several sources (Burke et al., 2006; Kirigiti et al., 2009; Krajewski et al., 2005; Krajewski et al., 2010).