Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Presence of adrenocorticotropin and β-Endorphin immunoreactivities in the magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat hypothalamus

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Antisera raised against ACTH (1–39), β-endorphin and the 16K proopiocortin were used, in association with the immunoperoxidase reaction, to localize positively-staining cell bodies and nerve fibres in the hypothalamus of the rat. Antigens, cross-reactive against anti-ACTH (1–39) serum were detected in a fibre system in the rostro-dorsal hypothalamus situated between the optic chiasm and the third ventricle while immunoreactive 16K-like material was present in fibres localized in the caudal hypothalamus, dorso-lateral to the arcuate nucleus. This latter system was also associated with the appearance of ACTH (1–39) and ACTH (17–39) immunoreactivity.

Cells of the arcuate nucleus stained positively for ACTH (1–39), 16K antigen and β-endorphin, and on examining adjacent thin sections it was observed that cells that contained 16K antigen-like material, also gave a positive immunoreaction with ACTH (1–39) and β-endorphin antisera. In the magnocellular system, cells of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei also gave a positive immunoreaction with anti-ACTH (1–39), 16K antigen and β-endorphin serum. As in the case of the arcuate nucleus, common cells stained for these three antigens.

On the basis of the precursor theory for the synthesis of ACTH, 16K antigen and β-endorphin, it was not unexpected to find these three fragments of pro-opiocortin localized together in cells of the arcuate nucleus. That ACTH (1–39), 16K antigen and β-endorphin-like materials are present in the magnocellular neurosecretory system would suggest that cells of the SON and PVN are not only involved in the synthesis of neurophysin and the neurohypophysial hormones, but also of some products of the pro-opiocortin molecule. Whether the biochemical nature of the ACTH and β-endorphin in cells of the SON and PVN is identical to that of anterior pituitary origin remains to be established, as does the biosynthetic relationship between neurophysin and oxytocin/ vasopressin and these fragments of pro-opiocortin.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Audhya TK, Walter R (1977) Highly purified neurophysin proteins: Method of isolation based on their acidic properties. Arch Biochem Biophys 180:130–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom F, Battenberg E, Rossier J, Ling N, Leppaluoto J, Vargo TM, Guillemin R (1977) Endorphins are located in the intermediate and anterior lobes of the pituitary gland, not in the neurohypophysis. Life Sciences 20:43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugnon C, Bloch B, Lenys D, Fellmann D (1979) Infundibular neurons of the human hypothalamus simultaneously reactive with antisera against endorphins, ACTH, MSH and β-LPH. Cell Tissue Res 199:177–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Choy VJ, Watkins WB (1977) Immunocytochemical study of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. II Distribution of neurophysin, vasopressin and oxytocin in the normal and osmotically stimulated rat. Cell Tissue Res 180:467–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Choy VJ, Watkins WB (1979) Maturation of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. I. Localization of neurophysin, oxytocin and vasopressin in the hypothalamus and neural lobe of the developing rat brain. Cell Tissue Res 197:325–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton CJ, Hoffman GE (1979) Immunocytochemical evidence for anti-LHRH and anti-ACTH activity in the “F” antiserum. Am J Anat 155:139–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Eipper BA, Mains RE (1978) Existence of a common precursor to ACTH and endorphin in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the rat pituitary. J Supramol Res 8:247–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman GE, Knigge KM, Moynihan-McCourt JA, Melnyk V, Arimura A (1978 a) Neuronal fields containing luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in mouse brain. Neuroscience 3:219–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman GE, Melnyk V, Hayes T, Bennett-Clarke C, Fowler E (1978 b) Immunocytology of LHRH neurons. In: Scott De, Kozlowski GP, Weindl A (eds), Brain-endocrine interaction III. Neural hormones and reproduction. 3rd International Symposium. Karger, Basel, pp 67–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Krieger DT, Liotta A, Brownstein MJ (1977 a) Presence of corticotropin in limbic system of normal and hypophysectomized rats. Brain Res 128:575–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Krieger DT, Liotta A, Brownstein MJ (1977 b) Presence of corticotropin in brain of normal and hypophysectomized rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:648–652

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson LI (1977) Corticotropin-like peptides in central nerves and in endocrine cells of gut and pancreas. Lancet 2:1321–1323

    Google Scholar 

  • Moriarty GC, Garner LL (1977) Immunocytochemical studies of cells in the rat adenohypophysis containing both ACTH and FSH. Nature 265:356–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilaver G, Zimmerman EA, Defendini R, Liotta AS, Krieger DT, Brownstein MJ (1979) Adrenocorticotropin and β-lipotropin in the hypothalamus. Localization in the same arcuate neurons by sequential immunocytochemical procedures. J Cell Biol 81:50–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier G, Leclerc R (1979) Immunohistochemical localization of adrenocorticotropin in the rat brain. Endocrinology 104:1426–1433

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier G, Leclerc R, Labrie F, Cote J, Chretien M, Lis M (1977) Immunohistochemical localization of beta-lipotropin hormone in the pituitary gland. Endocrinology 100:770–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts JL, Herbert E (1977 a) Characterization of a common precursor to corticotropin and β-lipotropin; Cell-free synthesis of the precursor and identification of corticotropin peptides in the molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:4826–4830

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts JL, Herbert E (1977 b) Characterization of a common precursor to corticotropin and β-lipotropin: identification of β-lipotropin peptides and their arrangement relative to corticotropin in the precursor synthesized in a cell free system. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5300–5304

    Google Scholar 

  • Sofroniew MV (1979) Immunoreactive β-endorphin and ACTH in the same neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in the rat. Am J Anat 154:283–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Tramu G, Leonardelli J (1979) Immunohistochemical localization of enkephalins in median eminence and adenohypophysis. Brain Res 168:457–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Noorden S, Polak JM, Pearse AGE (1977) Single cellular origin of somatostatin in the rat thyroid gland. Histochemistry 53:243–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins WB (1980) Evidence for the presence of immunoreactive somatostatin in neurophysin-vasopressin neurons in the magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat hypothalamus. Submitted for publication

  • Watkins WB, Bruni JF, Yen SSC (1980 a) β-endorphin and somatostatin in the pancreatic D-cell: colocalization by immunocytochemistra. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Submitted for publication

  • Watkins WB, Choy VJ (1976) Immunocytochemical evidence for the association of neurophysin-I with vasopressin and neurophysin-II with oxytocin in the pig hypothalamus. Neuroscience Letters 3:293–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins WB, Moore RY (1980) Immunoreactive calcitonin in the rat anterior pituitary gland and its localization in thyrotrophs. Am J Anat, in press

  • Watkins WB, Yen SSC, Moore RY (1980 b) Cellular localization of β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the anterior pituitary gland of the rat and man. Brain Res. Submitted for publication

  • Watson SJ, Barchas JD, Li CH (1977) Lipotropin-localization of cells and axons in rat brain by immunocytochemistry. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5155–5158

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson SJ, Richard CW, Bachas JD (1978 a) Adrenocorticotropin in rat brain: Immunocytochemical localization in cells and axons. Science 200:1180–1182

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson SJ, Akil H, Richard CW, Barchas JD (1978 b) Evidence for two separate opiate peptide neuronal system. Nature 275:226–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber E, Voigt KH, Martin R (1978) Concomitant storage of ACTH- and endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the secretory granules of anterior pituitary corticotrophs. Brain Res 157:385–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber E, Voigt KH, Martin R (1978) Pituitary somatotrophs contain Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:6134–6138

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkes MM, Stewart RD, Bruni JF, Quigley ME, Yen SSC, Ling N, Chretien MA (1980) Specific homologous radioimmunoassay for human β-endorphin: Direct measurement in biological fluids. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, in press

  • Zimmerman AE, Liotta A, Krieger DT (1978) Lipotropin in brain: localization in hypothalamic neurons by immunoperoxidase technique. Cell Tissue Res 186:393–398

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    W. B. Watkins

Authors
  1. W. B. Watkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Drs. M.M. Wilkes, S.S.C. Yen, G. Pelletier, B.A. Eipper and R. Walter are thanked for supplying some of the antisera and antigens used in this study. Thanks also go to Ciba-Geigy Ltd. and Organon Inc. for supplies of ACTH (17–39) and ACTH (1–24) respectively. This work was financed by The Medical Research Council of New Zealand

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Watkins, W.B. Presence of adrenocorticotropin and β-Endorphin immunoreactivities in the magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat hypothalamus. Cell Tissue Res. 207, 65–80 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239330

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239330

Key words

Search

Navigation