title: Regional distribution of immunoreactive prolactin-releasing peptide in the human brain.
abstract: Regional distribution of prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) in the human brain was studied by radioimmunoassay. The antiserum raised against human PrRP-31 in a rabbit was used in the assay, which showed 100% cross reaction with PrRP-20 and no significant cross reaction with other peptides. The highest concentrations of immunoreactive-PrRP were found in hypothalamus (912 +/- 519 fmol/g wet weight, n = 6, mean +/- SEM), followed by medulla oblongata (496 +/- 136 fmol/g wet weight) and thalamus (307 +/- 117 fmol/g wet weight). On the other hand, immunoreactive-PrRP was not detected in frontal lobe or temporal lobe (<50 fmol/g wet weight). Sephadex G50 column chromatography of the immunoreactive-PrRP in the hypothalamus and medulla oblongata showed three immunoreactive peaks; one peak eluting in the position of PrRP-20, one eluting in the position of PrRP-31 and one eluting earlier. Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of these brain tissue extracts showed a peak eluting in the position of PrRP-20 and PrRP-31. The present study has shown for the first time the presence of immunoreactive-PrRP in the human brain. The immunoreactive-PrRP levels in the human hypothalamus were, however, lower than the levels of other neuropeptides with prolactin-releasing activity, such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Applied Physiology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Miyagi, Japan. ktata-md@mail.cc.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshinoya
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arihara
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Totsune
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibahara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D056690:Prolactin-Releasing Hormone; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013788:Thalamus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D007106:Immune Sera; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D009479:Neuropeptides; C534377:PRLH protein, human; D056690:Prolactin-Releasing Hormone