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The distribution of secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity, a peptide derived from secretogranin II, was studied by means of immunocytochemistry and compared to the pattern of staining for substance P- and enkephalin-like immunoreactivities in the human basal forebrain, with special reference to the basal ganglia. Secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity was characterized by gel filtration and reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis. Chromatographic analysis revealed a single peak for secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity. No secretoneurin-immunopositive forms of high molecular weight were found. Secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity appeared mainly in dot- and fibre-like structures. In addition, a band-like terminal staining (woolly fibres) that has been shown by others for substance P- and enkephalin-like immunoreactivities, was also observed for secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity. Medium-sized cells were found arranged in clusters or singly within the caudate and putamen. In the basal ganglia, a high density of secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity was found in the internal segment of the globus pallidus, the ventral pallidum and in the pars reticulata of the substantia nigra. In these areas the immunostaining appeared mainly as woolly fibres. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial amygdala displayed a high density of fine beaded secretoneurin-like immunoreactive fibres, sometimes forming pericellular contacts. The nucelus basalis of Meynert was highly innervated by secretoneurin-like immunoreactive fibres, mainly in the form of woolly fibres. In general, a large overlap was found between secretoneurin- and substance P-like immunoreactivity in all examined areas of the basal ganglia. In the bed nucelus of the stria terminalis and medial amygdala secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity was distributed very similarly to enkephalin-like immunoreactivity. These data provide evidence that in different subsets of neurons and neuronal pathways secretoneurin-like immunoreactivity coexists with substance P- and enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in several areas of the human brain.

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