title: POMC-derived peptide immunoreactivity in neural lobe axons of the human pituitary.
abstract: The efferent projections of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus and nucleus of the solitary tract have been extensively characterized in the rat, but are less well understood in the human brain. We report here that ACTH, alpha-MSH, beta-endorphin, and N-acetyl-beta-endorphin immunoreactive axons are localized in the neural lobe of the human pituitary gland, in congruence with prior evidence that beta-endorphin and other POMC-derived peptides modulate vasopressin and oxytocin secretion.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City 64108.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Chronwall
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Millington
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000737:chemistry*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D000521:alpha-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone