Skip to main content
Log in

Immunohistochemical localization of cardiodilatin in myoendocrine cells of the cardiac atria

  • Published:
Anatomy and Embryology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Region-specific antibodies against synthetic N-terminal fragments of cardiodilatin (CDD) were raised in rabbits and used for the immunohistochemical detection of this new peptide hormone in the myoendocrine cells within the cardiac atria of several species. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) immunohistochemical methods gave identical results of cardiodilatin-immunoreactivity (CDD-IR) within the tissue. In addition to the porcine right atrial appendage, myoendocrine cells with CDD-IR were also detected in the left atrium of porcine heart, as well as in other species such as dog and cat. The exact localization of the immunoreactivity in specific secretory granules was mostly related to the Golgi-area which is located on both nuclear poles of auricular myoendocrine cells. The results confirm that cardiodilatin is stored in secretory granules observed through electron microscopical means. This hormone is most likely synthesized and released in myoendocrine cells, exerting its important cardiovascular effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berger JM, Rona G (1971) Functional and fine structural heterogeneity of atrial cardiocytes. In: Bajusz E, Jasmin G (eds) Meth Achievm exp Pathol 5. Karger, Basel, pp 540–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Bompiani GD, Rouiller C, Hatt PY (1959) Le tissu de conduction du cœur chez le rat. Etude au microscope électronique. Arch Maladies Cœur et Vaisseaux 52. 1257

  • Briggs JP, Steipe B, Schubert G, Schnermann J (1982) Micropuncture studies of the renal effects of atrial natriuretic substance. Pflügers Arch 395:271–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantin M, Benchimol S, Castonguay Y, Berlinguet J-C, Huet M (1975) Ultrastructural cytochemistry of atrial muscle cells. V. Characterization of specific granules in the human left atrium. J Ultrastruct Res 52:179–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Coons AH (1978) Fluorescent antibody methods. In: Danielli JF (ed) General cytochemical methods. Academic Press, New York, pp 399–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie MG, Geller DM, Cole BR, Boylan JG, Jusheng W, Holmberg SW, Needleman P (1983) Bioactive cardiac substances: potent vasorelaxant activity in mammalian atria. Science 221:71–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie MG, Geller DM, Cole BR, Siegel NR, Fok KF, Adams SP, Eubanks SR, Gallupi GR, Needleman P (1984) Purification and sequence analysis of bioactive atrial peptides (atriopeptins). Science 223:67–69

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bold AJ (1979) Heart atria granularity effects of changes in water-electrolyte balance. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 161:508–511

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bold AJ (1982) Tissue fractionation studies on the relationship between an atrial natriuretic factor and specific atrial granules. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 60:324–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssmann WG (1981) General methods in transmission electron microscopy of the nervous system. In: Heym Ch, Forssmann WG (eds) Techniques in neuroanatomical research. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 21–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssmann WG, Girardier L (1970) A study of the T system in rat heart. J Cell Biol 44:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssmann WG, Pickel V, Reinecke M, Hock D, Metz J (1981) Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry of nervous tissue. In: Heym Ch, Forssmann WG (eds) Techniques in neuroanatomical research. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 171–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssmann WG, Reinecke M, Weihe E (1982) Cardiac innervation. In: Bloom SR, Polak M, Lindenlaub E (eds) Systemic role of regulatory peptides. Schattauer, Stuttgart New York, pp 329–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssmann WG, Hock D, Lottspeich F, Henschen A, Kreye V, Christmann M, Reinecke M, Metz J, Carlquist M, Mutt V (1983) The right auricle of the heart is an endocrine organ: cardiodilatin as a peptide hormone candidate. Anat Embryol 168:307–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssmann WG, Birr C, Carlquist M, Christmann M, Finke R, Henschen A, Hock D, Kirchheim H, Kreye V, Lottspeich F, Metz J, Mutt V, Reinecke M (1984) The auricular myocardiocytes of the heart constitute an endocrine organ: Characterization of a porcine cardiac peptide hormone, cardiodilatin-126. Cell Tissue Res (in press)

  • Forssmann WG, Hock D, Kirchheim H, Metz J, Mutt V, Reinecke M (1984) Cardiac hormones: Morphological and functional aspects. Clin. Exp. Hypertension (in press)

  • Flynn TG, de Bold ML, de Bold AJ (1983) The amino acid sequence of an atrial peptide with potent diuretic and natriuretic properties. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 117:859–865

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia R, Cantin M, Thibault G, Ong H, Genest J (1982) Relationship of specific granules to the natriuretic and diuretic activity of rat atria. Experientia 15:1071–1073

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu J, Polak JM, Adrian TE, Allen JM, Tatemoto K, Bloom SR (1983) Neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) — a major cardiac neuropeptide. Lancet I:1008–1010

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibbs RG, Ferrans VJ (1969) An ultrastructural and histochemical study of rat atrial myocardium. Am J Anat 124:251–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson JD, Palade GE (1964) Specific granules in atrial muscle cells. J Cell Biol 23:151–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Kangawa K, Matsuo H (1984) Purification and complete amino acid sequence of-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (α-hANF). Biochem Biophys Res Comm 118:131–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Kisch B (1956) Electron microscopy of the atrium of the heart. I. Guinea pig. Exp Med Surg 14:99–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn H, Richards JG, Tranzer JP (1975) The nature of rat “specific heart granules” with regard to catecholamines: an investigation by ultrastructural cytochemistry. J Ultrastruct Res 50:159–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Marie J-P, Guillemot H, Hatt P-Y (1976) Le degré de granulation des cardiocytes auriculaires. Etude planimétrique au cours de différents apports d'eau et de sodium chez le rat. Pathol Biol 24:549–554

    Google Scholar 

  • McNutt NS, Fawcett DW (1969) The ultrastructure of the cat myocardium. II. Atrial muscle. J Cell Biol 42:46–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Papka RE, Furness JB, Della NG, Costa M (1981) Depletion by capsaicin of substance P — immunoreactivity and acetylcholinesterase activity from nerve fibres in the guinea-pig heart. Neurosci Lett 27:47–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Poche R (1957) Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen des Lipofuscin im Herzmuskel des Menschen. Zbl Allg Pathol 96:395

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke M, Weihe E, Forssmann WG (1980) Substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the heart. Neurosci Lett 20:265–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke M, Weihe E, Carraway RE, Leeman SE, Forssmann WG (1982) Localization of neurotensin immunoreactive nerve fibers in the guinea pig heart: evidence derived by immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and chromatography. Neuroscience 7:1785–1795

    Google Scholar 

  • Sosa-Lucero JC, de la Iglesia FA, Lumb G, Berger JM, Bencosme S (1969) Subcellular distribution of catecholamines and specific granules in rat heart. Lab Invest 21:19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberger LA (1979) Immunocytochemistry, 2nd. edition. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatemoto K (1982) New peptides, their structures and functions. In: Bloom SR, Polak JM, Lindenlaub E (eds) Systemic role of regulatory peptides. Schattauer, Stuttgart New York, pp 507–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Thibault G, Garcia R, Cantin M, Genest J, Lazure C, Seidah NG, Chrétien M (1984) Primary structure of a high M r form of rat atrial natriuretic factor. FEBS Lett 167:352–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Weihe E, Reinecke M, Forssmann WG (1984) Multilocal distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in the heart: immunohistochemical evidence for an interaction with neurotensin-immunoreactive and substance P-immunoreactive cardiac nerves. Cell Tissue Res [in press]

  • Weihe E, Reinecke M, Opherk D, Forssmann WG (1981) Peptidergic innervation (substance P) in the human heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol 13:331–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Wharton J, Polak JM, McGregor GP, Bishop AE, Bloom SR (1981) The distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive nerves in the guinea-pig heart. Neuroscience 11:2193–2204

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Carvas SFB 90

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Metz, J., Mutt, V. & Forssmann, W.G. Immunohistochemical localization of cardiodilatin in myoendocrine cells of the cardiac atria. Anat Embryol 170, 123–127 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318996

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318996

Key words

Navigation