Synaptic inputs of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like Immuno reactive axon terminals to neurons containing atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) region of the rat diencephalon were examined ultrastructurally by a pre-embedding double immunostaining technique combining the silver-gold intensified peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex-3,3'diaminobenzidine (SGI-PAP-DAB) method for ANP with the nonintensified PAP-DAB method for CRF. CRF-like Immunoreactive

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... xon terminals were found to make asymmetrical or symmetrical synaptic contacts with ANP-like Immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and processes in the AV3V region. These findings suggest that CRF-containing neurons may regulate the secretory activity, or other functions, or both, of ANP-containing neurons through synapses in the AV3V region of the rat diencephalon.