title: Immunoreactive dynorphin A-like material in extracted human hypothalamic-hypophysial plasma.
abstract: Immunoreactive dynorphin A-like material (ir-dyn A) in human plasma was measured by a validated radioimmunoassay. In peripheral plasma extracts mean concentrations between 20 and 40 fmol/ml were determined in volunteers and in patients with pituitary adenomas. In this latter group superimposable levels were detected three days before and during transsphenoidal microsurgery. Interestingly, ir-dyn A levels evaluated in extracts of hypothalamic-hypophysial plasma obtained during surgery, just after tumor removal, were 4-5 times higher than in peripheral plasma. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (rp-HPLC) of extracts of peripheral plasma samples revealed two immunoreactive peaks. The major form had the same retention time of dyn A-(1-32); whereas a second, more lipophilic, peak eluted later and was not further characterized. In contrast, rp-HPLC analysis of extracts of plasma collected from the suprapituitary region displayed only one peak eluting in the position of synthetic dyn A-(1-17). The presence of dyn-related peptides in hypothalamic-hypophysial plasma supports the hypothesis that they may play a part in the regulation of hypothalamic and/or pituitary functions in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spampinato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paradisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canossa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flamigni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D004399:Dynorphins