Co-occurrence of immunoreactive calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuroendocrine cells of rat lungs.
Neuroendocrine cells of the lung, occurring singly or in clusters known as neuroepithelial bodies, contain a variety of biologically active compounds, including several neuropeptides. We have investigated the localization of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) within single and grouped neuroendocrine cells in the respiratory epithelium of rats by an immunohistochemical double-staining technique which uses specific antisera raised in heterogeneous animal species. Calcitonin- and CGRP-immunoreactivities were nearly totally co-localized in both single neuroendocrine cells and neuroepithelial bodies. CGRP-immunoreactivity was also present in neurons in the jugular, nodose and dorsal root ganglia. The calcitonin-immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells, as in thyroid parafollicular (C) cells, was abolished by preincubation of the anti-calcitonin serum with synthetic calcitonin. The CGRP-immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells and in the neuronal cells was abolished by preincubation of anti-CGRP serum with synthetic CGRP. Thus, while the calcitonin gene is expressed exclusively or predominantly as either calcitonin or CGRP in all other tissues except thyroid C-cells, our results strongly suggest that both peptides are expressed in the rat bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine cells.
Shimosegawa
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Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine.
Said
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D001078:APUD Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide