Subcellular distribution of corticotropin-releasing-factor-like immunoreactivity in rat central nervous system.
Corticotropin-releasing-factor-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) was measured in a number of subcellular fractions from rat brain using a highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay. CRF-LI was highly enriched in the crude synaptosomal/mitochondrial fraction (P2) relative to the homogenate, P1, S1, and S2 fractions. Separation of the P2 fraction into synaptosomal, myelin, and mitochondria-enriched subfractions on a rapid one-step sucrose gradient revealed that CRF-LI was present at higher concentration in the synaptosomal fraction than in the mitochondrial and myelin fractions. The distribution of CRF-LI paralleled that of synapsin, a synaptic vesicle marker phosphoprotein, but not that of pyruvate dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial phosphoprotein. These results are consistent with a nerve terminal localization of CRF and a potential role for this peptide as a central nervous system neurotransmitter.
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
S T
ST
Cain
M J
MJ
Owens
C B
CB
Nemeroff
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D003720:Densitometry; D004586:Electrophoresis; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism*
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone