Characterization of a neurohypophyseal hormone-like activity isolated from ovine pineal glands.
The milk-ejecting response of lactating mouse mammary gland tissue to ovine pineal extracts indicated the presence of a neurohormone-like bioactivity in this tissue. After successive fractionation on gel permeation chromatography and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) in conjunction with radioimmunoassays (RIA), it was demonstrated that the milk-ejection response to ovine pineal components with an Mr less than 1,000 corresponded to a biologically active peptide sequence that probably differs from that of arginine vasopressin, arginine vasotocin, and oxytocin and from peptides with a COOH-terminal Pro-Arg-Gly-amide ending. Gel permeation chromatography in formic acid appeared also to indicate the presence of a noncovalent interaction of the neurohormone-like bioactivity with proteins (Mr greater than 25,000) of the pineal.
Noteborn
H P
HP
Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Ebels
I
I
Reinharz
A C
AC
Pévet
P
P
Benson
B
B
Salemink
C A
CA
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000032:analysis; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008893:Milk Ejection / Q000187:drug effects; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000032:analysis; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000032:analysis*; D010909:Pituitary Hormones, Posterior / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep
D010909:Pituitary Hormones, Posterior; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin