Summary
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1.
Immunocytochemical studies have been performed which establish the presence of immunoreactive (ir-) insulin in primary cultures from fetal rat brain. Approximately 1% of the identified neurons in culture contained insulin immunoreactivity. Typically, a diffuse staining pattern was observed in the perikaryia and fiber profiles of peroxidase-anti-peroxidase-positive neurons. Varicosity-like structures containing ir-insulin were found on the majority of positively stained fiber profiles. A small number of the neurons appeared to have cytoplasmic granules that stained densely for insulin. No significant staining was observed in the background monolayer of cells predominantly of glial origin.
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The substitution of primary antiserum absorbed with excess insulin or preimmune serum eliminated staining in the neurons. The observation of insulin immunoreactivity in neurons suggests that insulin may be a neuromodulator in the central nervous system.
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Weyhenmeyer, J.A., Fellows, R.E. Presence of immunoreactive insulin in neurons cultured from fetal rat brain. Cell Mol Neurobiol 3, 81–86 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735000
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735000