Vasopressin and angiotensin II are absent but spontaneously reappear in solitary hypothalamic neurons of the homozygous Brattleboro rat.
The homozygous Brattleboro rat (di/di) synthesizes a vasopressin (VP) precursor with a different C-terminus, which is not packaged in granules. In addition, the expression of a coexisting peptide, angiotensin II (Ang II), is disturbed. During postnatal life a small but increasing number of solitary post-mitotic hypothalamic neurons of the di/di rat undergoes a switch to a genuine heterozygous phenotype. Here we report the reappearance of Ang II in these heterozygous cells, which suggests that for the expression of Ang II a normal VP precursor is required. Based upon the present study and literature data it is proposed that at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum a compartmentalization of the synthesis of various peptide precursor occurs.
van Leeuwen
F W
FW
Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam.
vd Beek
E M
EM
van Heerikhuize
J J
JJ
Sluiter
A A
AA
Felix
D
D
Imboden
H
H
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D006720:Homozygote; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D011910:Rats, Brattleboro; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D006020:Glycopeptides; D014667:Vasopressins; D000804:Angiotensin II