Neurotensin receptor localization by light microscopic autoradiography in rat brain.

Neurotensin is a putative peptide neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. The light microscopic localization of the neurotensin receptor has been carried out by the autoradiographic localization of [3H]neurotensin binding sites in slide-mounted tissue sections. Large variations in receptor distribution were found, even in small areas. In many regions, the distribution of the receptor paralleled that of the immunoreactive neurotensin found in other studies. The results suggest sites of neurotensin's action in producing various physiological effects such as hypothermia and analgesia.