Immunocytochemical localization of POMC-derived peptides (adrenocorticotropic hormone, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and beta-endorphin) in the pituitary, brain and olfactory epithelium of the frog, Rana esculenta, during development.
Developmental stages of Rana esculenta, starting with the posterior limb-bud stage (stage 26) up to a few days after metamorphosis, were examined immunohistochemically to localize cells and fibers producing some POMC-derived peptides, namely, alpha-MSH, ACTH and beta-END. Anti ACTH and anti alpha-MSH revealed a positive reaction in the pars intermedia during all stages of development included in this study, whereas no immunoreactivity in this pituitary zone was ever evidenced with anti beta-END. In the pars distalis strongly positive cells were seen with anti ACTH and anti beta-END, while anti alpha-MSH yielded weakly positive cells. Interestingly, these peptides were colocalized in the same cells. Immunoreactivity for alpha-MSH was no longer present in the pars distalis during metamorphic climax and postmetamorphosis. In the brain of premetamorphic tadpoles, belonging to stages 26 to 30, a few neurons in the posterior telencephalon showed a positive reaction only with anti alpha-MSH, but from stage 31 (prometamorphosis) onwards, ACTH and beta-endorphin-like peptide producing cells, together with alpha-MSH-immunoreactive cells, were seen in this region and in the anterior preoptic area and infundibulum. This situation persisted in the subsequent stages of development. Anti alpha-MSH also revealed weakly positive cells in the olfactory epithelium in premetamorphic tadpoles; strong immunoreactivity with anti alpha-MSH was seen in olfactory epithelium cells in animals during prometamorphosis, metamorphic climax and postmetamorphosis. The possible significance of these findings is briefly discussed.
D'Aniello
B
B
Department of Zoology, University of Naples, Italy.
Imperatore
C
C
Fiorentino
M
M
Vallarino
M
M
Rastogi
R K
RK
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007814:Larva; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000032:analysis*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000032:analysis*
D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone