6533b829fe1ef96bd128a545
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of peptides derived from proenkephalin, prodynorphin and proopiomelanocortin in the guinea pig pineal gland
Eberhard WeiheD. NohrHannsjörg SchröderLutz Vollrathsubject
Maleendocrine systemmedicine.medical_specialtyPro-OpiomelanocortinGuinea PigsDynorphinBiologyPineal GlandPinealocyteMelatoninGuinea pigPineal glandProopiomelanocortinInternal medicinemedicineAnimalsProtein PrecursorsOpioid peptideEnkephalinsGeneral MedicineImmunohistochemistryProenkephalinmedicine.anatomical_structureEndocrinologyalpha-MSHbiology.proteinAnatomyPeptidesGeneral Agricultural and Biological Scienceshormones hormone substitutes and hormone antagonistsmedicine.drugdescription
By using a plethora of region-specific antisera, this light microscopic immunohistochemical study revealed that derivatives from the three opioid precursors, i.e. proenkephalin, prodynorphin and proopiomelanocortin are differentially distributed in the pineal gland of guinea pig. Various molecular forms of immunoreactive opioid peptides derived from proenkephalin or prodynorphin were present in a minority of pinealocytes as well as in nerves. In contrast to this dual distribution pattern of opioid-active peptides, the opioid-inactive derivative from proopiomelanocortin, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, was exclusively present in a large proportion of pinealocytes. A multiple and differential origin and function of opioidergic pineal innervation involving sympathetic, parasympathetic and sensory components is suggested. alpha-MSH is proposed as a pineal hormone which may act in concert with melatonin to regulate pineal rhythms or may function like MSH of pituitary origin.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-05-01 | Histochemistry |