Galanin: presence and distribution in the brain and pituitary of Rhinella arenarum (Amphibia: Anura) during development.

The immunohistochemical distribution of galanin (Gal) in the brain and pituitary of Rhinella arenarum was studied during development. Gal-immunoreactivity was first observed in the brain just after hatching in anterior preoptic area, infundibular area, median eminence and pars distalis of the pituitary as well as in the olfactory epithelium. At the beginning of prometamorphosis new Gal-immunoreactive (ir) cells were observed in the olfactory nerve and bulb. Later in prometamorphosis new Gal-ir cells were observed in the telencephalon, suprachiasmatic nucleus, rostral rhombencephalon and in the pars nervosa of the pituitary. The most numerous accumulations of Gal-ir neurons throughout the larval development were observed in the ventral hyphothalamus where numerous Gal-ir cells of cerebrospinal fluid-contacting type were found. During metamorphic climax and soon after we did not detect Gal-ir neurons in the pallium, medial or pretectal dorsal thalamus. In the median eminence and pars distalis of the pituitary many Gal-ir fibers were found during development indicating that Gal may play a role in the modulation of hypophyseal secretion. Furthermore, the distribution of Gal-ir elements observed throughout larvae development indicates that galaninergic system maturation continues until sexual maturity.