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Specific localisation of neurotensin to the N cell in human intestine by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry

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Abstract

NEUROTENSIN, originally isolated from bovine hypothalamus1, was shown to be a peptide of 13 amino acids2. It has been synthesised3 and its pharmacological actions shown to include effects on small intestine motility, blood vessel tone, enhancement of glycogenolysis, release of glucagon and inhibition of insulin release5–7. Immunoreactive neurotensin has been detected in mammalian hypothalamus and a few other areas of the brain8–10 but much larger quantities occur in the intestine11. Neurotensin has been shown in discrete cells in the ileal mucosa of various birds and mammals including man12–15. The cell type has recently been fully characterised and its identity internationally accepted (see ref. 16). The distribution of the peptide in man is unknown. Using a combination of radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunocytochemistry (IC) we have found large amounts of neurotensin-like reactivity in human ileum with less in the jejunum. The immunoreactive cells are restricted to the mucosa. Neurotensin thus joins the growing group of peptides which are common to brain and gut17. The effect of such peptides may differ according to their location. Neurotensin has been reported in rat blood11 and may therefore act as a circulating hormone. In addition, its location in the brain suggests a possible role as a peptidergic neuro-transmitter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Histochemistry and Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, W12, UK

    JULIA M. POLAK, S. N. SULLIVAN, S. R. BLOOM, A. M. J. BUCHAN, P. FACER, M. R. BROWN & A. G. E. PEARSE

  2. Laboratories for Neuroendocrinology, The Salk Institute, San Diego, California

    JULIA M. POLAK, S. N. SULLIVAN, S. R. BLOOM, A. M. J. BUCHAN, P. FACER, M. R. BROWN & A. G. E. PEARSE

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  1. JULIA M. POLAK
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  2. S. N. SULLIVAN
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  3. S. R. BLOOM
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  4. A. M. J. BUCHAN
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  5. P. FACER
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  6. M. R. BROWN
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  7. A. G. E. PEARSE
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POLAK, J., SULLIVAN, S., BLOOM, S. et al. Specific localisation of neurotensin to the N cell in human intestine by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry. Nature 270, 183–184 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270183a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/270183a0

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