Infundibular neurons of the human hypothalamus simultaneously reactive with antisera against endorphins, ACTH, MSH and beta-LPH.
In man, discrete neurons of the infundibular (arcuate) nucleus contain compounds that can be stained with anti-endorphin (alpha and beta), anti-ACTH, anti-MSH (alpha and beta) and anti-beta-LPH immune sera (I.S.). In the fetus, certain neurons stain with anti-beta-endorphin or anti((17--39)ACTH starting from the 11th week of fetal life. At the ultrastructural level, these neurons contain elementary granules that are immunoreactive with anti-beta-endorphin. In the adult, neurons immunoreactive with anti-beta-endorphin are found in the infundibular nucleus. Their axonal fibers terminate around blood vessels in the neurovascular zone and in the pituitary stalk, or establish contacts with non-immunoreactive perikarya of the infundibular nucleus. These neurons can be stained with anti(17--39)ACTH and anti-beta-endorphin I.S. The most reactive are also stained moderately with anti-alpha-MSH, anti-beta-MSH, anti-beta-LPH, anti-alpha-endorphin, or anti(1--24)ACTH I.S. These results indicate that, in man, compound(s) identical with or immunologically related to endorphins, beta-LPH, ACTH and MSH are secreted by certain hypothalamic neurons. These agents probably originate from a common precursor molecula similar to the so-called pro-opiocortin.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies; D004723:Endorphins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000906:Antibodies; D004723:Endorphins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D008083:beta-Lipotropin