This study was carried out to nvestigate the NPY-immunohistochemical characteristics of the olfactory bulb in the striped field mouse(Apodemus agrarius). The animals were anesthesized with thiopental sodium and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde through left ventricle and aorta. Brains were removed and tranfered 10%, 20% and 30% sucrose. Sections were then cut on a cryostat into 40 micro meter-thick. The tissue immunostained with avidin-biotinylated complex method. The main olfactory bulb consisted of seven circumferential laminae: and olfactory nerve fiber layer, a glomerular layer with glomeruli surrounding by periglomerular cells, an external plexiform layer having granule and tufted cells, a mitral cell layer, a narrow internal plexiform layer, a granule cell layer forming several cell rows and alayer of white matter. The accessory olfactory bulb had four layers: an olfactory or vomeronasal nerve fiber layer, a glomerular layer consisting of small glomeruli, a mixed layer not distinguishing the external plexiform/mitral cell/granule cell layers and a granule cell layer. Most of NPY-immunoreactive(NPY-IR) neurons in main olfactory bulb were localized in the deeper portion of granule cell layer, white matter and anterior olfactory nucleus. In addition, some NPY-IR neurons were identified in the external plexiform layer. The shape of NPY-IR neurons of all olfactory bulb were predominant round or oval, sometime multipolar in shape. And most NPY-IR processes were parallel to long axis of white matter. In accessory olfactory bulb, NPY-IR neurons were not found in all region.

Hypocretin/orexin is produced exclusively in the dorsal and lateral hypothalamus but its projection is widespread within the brain and plays important roles. In this paper, we review the independent discoveries of the hypocretin/orexin peptides, the neuroanatomy of this system, and the link to the sleep disorder narcolepsy that has led to the idea that this system plays a crucial role in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.