title: Expression and localization of inhibin alpha-subunit in rat retinal photoreceptor cells.
abstract: To determine whether rat retinal photoreceptor cells produce inhibin, a molecule closely related to activin, a multifunctional growth factor in the transforming growth factor beta superfamily (TGF beta), we have conducted immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies for inhibin which were raised against a synthetic N-terminal fragment of the alpha-subunit of inhibin. The mature inhibin molecule was identified at both the inner and outer segments of photoreceptor cells. To determine if messenger RNA for the alpha-subunit of inhibin is expressed in the retinal cells, both in situ hybridization with a specific probe and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique with primers specific for the alpha-subunit of inhibin were used. Messenger RNA expression of the alpha-subunit of inhibin was detected by RT-PCR and localized in the photoreceptor cells as determined by in situ hybridization. In addition, the identity of the cDNA product of RT-PCR was verified with Southern analysis and DNA sequencing. The localization of mature inhibin protein and its corresponding message to photoreceptor cells suggest that inhibin may have a paracrine function in the retina, perhaps in the photoreceptor cells themselves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Neurobiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007265:Inhibins; D012172:Retinaldehyde