title: Immunocytochemical localization of a galanin-like peptide (GALP) in pituicytes of the rat posterior pituitary gland.
abstract: A galanin-like peptide (GALP) was recently isolated as a ligand of GalR2, a galanin receptor subtype. The GALP mRNA is expressed in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the posterior pituitary (PP). In this study, we demonstrated the localization of GALP-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the rat PP. In normal conditions, a few GALP-ir cells were detected in the PP, and these cells increased on dehydration for 4 days. The GALP-immunopositive reaction was dramatically enhanced by the intraperitoneal injection of colchicine. For the identification of GALP-ir cells in the PP, we performed electron microscopic observation, and also double immunocytochemical staining for GALP and S-100 protein. Both studies clearly indicated that the GALP-ir cells in the PP are pituicytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Regulation Biology, Faculty of Science, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-ohkubo, Saitama 338-0825, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Sachika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Kimie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtaki
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kitada
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onda
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: Kinji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D019921:Biotinylation; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003681:Dehydration / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044089:Galanin-Like Peptide; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D044089:Galanin-Like Peptide; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D003078:Colchicine