title: Carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme II is located in corticotrophs of the human pituitary gland.
abstract: We studied the location of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzymes I, II, and VI in human pituitary gland using specific antisera in conjunction with immunoblotting, immunoperoxidase, and double immunofluorescence staining techniques. Stainings with anti-CA II serum showed intense cytoplasmic reaction in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Double immunofluorescence staining was used to identify the cells that expressed CA II. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that, of the anterior pituitary hormones studied, ACTH coincides mainly with CA II in these cells. Stainings with anti-CA I and VI sera were negative in the endocrine cells of the pituitary gland. Western blotting of the pituitary gland with anti-CA II revealed a distinct 29-KD polypeptide band corresponding in molecular weight to CA II, suggesting that the antiserum does not detect any nonspecific protein. Anti-CA I serum similarly showed a major 29-KD band, possibly recognizing the enzyme, which is abundantly present in erythrocytes. The results indicate that CA II is expressed in corticotrophs of human pituitary gland, in which its physiological role may be linked to the regulation of optimal pH in the secretory vesicles for the cleavage of ACTH from its precursor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Parkkila
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parkkila
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rajaniemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases