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Location of PHM/VIP mRNA in human gastrointestinal tract detected by in situ hybridization

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Abstract

The expression of the gene for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine methionine (PHM) in the human gastrointestinal tract was studied by in situ hybridization and Northern blotting for PHM/ VIP mRNA and immunocytochemistry using specific antisera against the bioactive peptides PHM and VIP. In the colon sigmoideum, antisera against all five putative processing products of the VIP precursor (prepro-VIP) were used, namely prepro-VIP 22–79, PHM, prepro-VIP 111–122, VIP and prepro-VIP 156–170. Furthermore, RNA extracted from various regions of the gastrointestinal tract was examined by Northern blots and hybridization to a VIP-cDNA probe. Throughout the gastrointestinal tract, PHM/VIP mRNA was found in neurons only. Using single-or double-staining methods, we demonstrated both PHM/VIP mRNA and the corresponding peptides PHM and VIP in the neurons. In the sigmoideum, the single-staining methods were extended to investigate whether the neurons simultaneously contained PHM/VIP mRNA and each of the five prepro-VIP-derived peptides. Only one major band of PHM/VIP mRNA (1.9 kb) was found by Northern blotting in the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    Helle E. Bredkjær, Birgitte S. Wulff & Jan Fahrenkrug

  2. MRC Group, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetic Research, Babraham, Cambridge, UK

    Piers C. Emson

Authors
  1. Helle E. Bredkjær
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  2. Birgitte S. Wulff
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  3. Piers C. Emson
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  4. Jan Fahrenkrug
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Bredkjær, H.E., Wulff, B.S., Emson, P.C. et al. Location of PHM/VIP mRNA in human gastrointestinal tract detected by in situ hybridization. Cell Tissue Res 276, 229–238 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306108

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306108

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