Distribution of Met5-enkephalin-Arg6, Phe7 in rat spinal cord.
The distribution of Met5-enkephalin-Arg6, Phe7 (YGGFMRF) in rat spinal cord was determined by a specific RIA and compared with that of Met5-enkephalin. The concentration of YGGFMRF on a per mg protein basis was highest in sacral cord and successively decreased in more rostral segments. A similar rostro-caudal distribution was observed for Met5-enkephalin. Regional microdissection revealed the dorsal grey matter to be highest in YGGFMRF content followed by ventral gray, ventral white and dorsal white matter; a similar pattern was observed for Met5-enkephalin. The ratio of Met5-enkephalin: YGGFMRF concentration was 5.4 +/- 0.15 (S.E.M.) on average in all regions measured, indicating a very close quantitative relationship between the two molecules. Our data suggest that YGGFMRF may act as a precursor of or cotransmitter with Met5-enkephalin in spinal cord tissue.
D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D007106:Immune Sera; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; C027511:enkephalin-Met, Arg(6)-Phe(7)-