Localization of angiotensin IV binding sites to motor and sensory neurons in the sheep spinal cord and hindbrain.

In the sheep spinal cord, a high density of [125I]angiotensin IV binding sites was localized to the perikaryon and processes of all somatic motor neurons, the autonomic motor neurons in the lateral horns of thoracic and lumbar segments and all dorsal root ganglia, but was low in lamina II of all dorsal horns. At supraspinal levels, [125I]angiotensin IV binding was abundant in numerous motor associated regions, with weaker binding observed in the sensory regions. This wide distribution pattern suggests an important role for the binding site in the central nervous system.