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- Title
Distribution of Urocortin 2 in Various Tissues of the Rat.
- Authors
Yamauchi, N.; Otagiri, A.; Nemoto, T.; Sekino, A.; Oono, H.; Kato, I.; Yanaihara, C.; Shibasaki, T.
- Abstract
Urocortin (Ucn) 2 is a new member of the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neuropeptide family that is expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. However, the expression levels of Ucn 2 in various tissues of the rat remains unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterise the expression of Ucn 2 in the various tissues of the rat. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that Ucn 2 mRNA is expressed in the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, stomach, skin, ovary, uterus and skeletal muscle. Histologically, Ucn 2 mRNA and Ucn 2-like immunoreactivity (LI) were demonstrated in both the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary, but not detected in the posterior lobe. Furthermore, all Ucn 2-positive cells in the anterior and intermediate lobes were also positive for β-endorphin. Ucn 2 mRNA was detected in the adrenal cortex and medulla although Ucn 2-LI was only found in the adrenal medulla. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal extracts showed that the main Ucn 2-LI peak occurred at the same molecular size as that of synthetic Ucn 2. These results suggest that Ucn 2 is synthesised in various tissues, including the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary and the adrenal.
- Subjects
CORTICOTROPIN releasing hormone; NEUROPEPTIDES; PITUITARY hormone releasing factors; TISSUES; NERVE tissue proteins; CENTRAL nervous system
- Publication
Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2005, Vol 17, Issue 10, p656
- ISSN
0953-8194
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01354.x