title: Identification of immunoreactive gastrin-releasing peptide related substances in adult rat Leydig cells.
abstract: Purified adult rat Leydig cells were found to produce gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Gel chromatography of the extracted material showed a single peak of GRP immunoreactivity. Further high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis resolved the extract into two peaks that closely resembled the C-terminal fragment of GRP, GRP18-27 and GRP14-27. Immunohistochemical studies revealed specific staining for GRP in the Leydig cells of adult rat testis. These results demonstrate, by a number of independent criteria, that rat Leydig cells contain substances which behave like authentic GRP-like peptides. Since the peptides appear to be of local origin, a paracrine function within the rat testis is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology, Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gnessi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isidori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolotti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulisse
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jannini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001839:Bombesin / Q000032:analysis*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D010455:Peptides; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; C041922:gastrin releasing peptide (14-27); C040794:neuromedin C; D001839:Bombesin