Tissue-specific sex differences in galanin-like immunoreactivity and galanin mRNA during development in the rat.
Galanin-like immunoreactivity (Gal-LI), as determined by radioimmunoassay, was detectable in the brain and gastrointestinal tract by day 15 of gestation. Concentrations of Gal-LI increased after birth in the hypothalamus but decreased in the stomach and duodenum. A sex difference in Gal-LI concentrations appeared during puberty in the median eminence, neurointermediate lobe, and the anterior pituitary (AP), where females had higher Gal-LI concentrations compared to males. This difference was most pronounced in the AP; adult females had up to 4-fold greater Gal-LI concentrations and 5-fold more abundant rGal-specific mRNA compared to males.
Gabriel
S M
SM
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Kaplan
L M
LM
Martin
J B
JB
Koenig
J I
JI
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004386:Duodenum / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012737:Sex Factors; D013270:Stomach / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*
D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019004:Galanin