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Presence of AVT-, α-MSH-, LHRH- and somatostatin-like compounds in the rat pineal gland and their relationship with the UMO5R pineal fraction

An immunocytochemical study

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Summary

Using antibodies against AVT, α-MSH, LHRH and somatostatin, immunoreactive cells were detected in the rat pineal gland. All of these antibodies stain the same cells, which also react immunocytochemically when an antibody against the UMO5R sheep pineal fraction, a fraction that presents antigonadotropic properties in vivo, is used. Relatively more immunoreactive cells are present in the pineals of young rats than in the pineals of adult animals. Comparison of the results obtained with different potent antibodies against each of the peptides, and a study of the staining properties of the antibodies in the pineal after solid phase adsorption to different peptides or to different sheep pineal fractions, led to the proposal that the immunoreactivity found in the rat pineal is not due to the presence of AVT, α-MSH, LHRH or somatostatin, but to a cross-reaction of each of these antibodies with (an) unidentified compound(s). This compound is synthetized in the pineal gland, as was demonstrated using cultured pineals. The UMO5R and the Prot. 4 fractions of the sheep pineal seem to be chemically related to this unknown compound, the possible endocrine nature of which is discussed.

Resumé

En utilisant des anticorps contre l'AVT, l'α-MSH, le LHRH et la somatostatine, des cellules épiphysaires du Rat ont été immunocytochimiquement colorées. Tous ces anticorps colorent les mêmes cellules. Ces cellules réagissent également quand un anticorps est utilisé contre la fraction épiphysaire UMO5R, fraction qui est douée de propriétés antigonadotropiques in vivo. Il a également été montré que le nombre des cellules immunoréactives était plus important dans la pinéale du jeune rat que dans celle de l'adulte.

La comparaison des résultats obtenus avec différents anticorps et l'étude des propriétés de ces anticorps aprés absorption sur différents peptides ou sur différentes fractions épiphysaires, a permis de conclure que les réactions obtenues dans la pinéale du rat n'étaient que la conséquence d'une réaction croisée de ces anticorps avec une/des substance(s) inconnue(s) synthétisée(s) par la pinéale elle-même. La nature endocrine possible de cette substance qui serait chimiquement apparenté aux fractions épiphysaires Mouton UMO5R et Prot. 4, est discutée.

Drs. B.L. Baker (Ann Arbor, Mich., USA), M.P. Dubois (Nouzilly, France), J. De Mey (Beerse, Belgium), J.D. Fernstrom (Cambridge, Mass., USA.), H. Goos (Utrecht, The Netherlands), B. Kerdelhué (Gif-sur-Yvette, France) and A.G.E. Pearse (London, U.K.) are also acknowledged for their gifts of various antibodies

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, IJdijk 28, 1095, KJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    P. Pévet, D. F. Swaab & M. T. Mud

  2. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    P. Pévet

  3. Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    I. Ebels

  4. Department of Medicine, and Veterans Administration Hospital, Tulane University, New Orleans, USA

    A. Arimura

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  1. P. Pévet
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  2. I. Ebels
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  3. D. F. Swaab
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  4. M. T. Mud
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  5. A. Arimura
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Supported by the Foundation for Medical Research FUNGO (nr 13-35-33)

The authors wish to thank Prof. J. Ariëns Kappers and the members of the project group “Neuroendocrinology” for their suggestions and critical remarks, B. Fisser for his skilful assistance, and Miss J. Sels for typing the manuscript.

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Pévet, P., Ebels, I., Swaab, D.F. et al. Presence of AVT-, α-MSH-, LHRH- and somatostatin-like compounds in the rat pineal gland and their relationship with the UMO5R pineal fraction. Cell Tissue Res. 206, 341–353 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237964

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