Localization of neurons containing pro-opiomelanocortin-related peptides in the hypothalamus and midbrain of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis evidence for region-specific processing of β-endorphin

Immunohistochemical analyses of the lizard brain, following colchicine pretreatment, revealed two populations of POMC-producing cell bodies located in medial-basal hypothalamus and the mesencephalic tegmentum. Analyses of extracts of lizard brain regions by radioimmunoassay and gel filtration chromatography indicate that β-endorphin-sized and α-MSH-sized peptides are the major POMC-related end products. Evidence is presented for region-specific processing of β-endorphin in the lizard brain.