title: Presence of helodermin-like peptides of the VIP-secretin family in mammalian salivary glands and saliva.
abstract: Helodermin is a biologically active peptide isolated from the venom of the Gila monster lizard (Heloderma suspectum) whose structure is related to that of vasoactive intestinal peptide and secretin. Using a specific radioimmunoassay based on antisera prepared by immunizing rabbits with natural helodermin, we demonstrated the presence of helodermin-like material in mammalian salivary glands, including parotid, submaxillary and sublingual glands from rat and dog, and parotid and submaxillary glands from man. All helodermin-like materials had an apparent molecular mass of 4-12 kDa. Dog saliva, collected after pilocarpine stimulation, revealed similar immunoreactivity with a major component around 6 kDa.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000032:analysis*; D012633:Secretin / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D012633:Secretin; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; C040442:heliodermin