Comparative distribution of VIP in the central nervous system of various species measured by a new radioimmunoassay.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) occurs in high concentrations throughout the gut and the nervous system. The presence of VIP has been shown in a number of species, mainly by immunohistochemistry. The aim of the present study was to develop a new, highly specific VIP radioimmunoassay to investigate the distribution of VIP in the central nervous system of various vertebrate and invertebrate species. Different areas of the brain and spinal cord were removed from rats, chickens, turtles, frogs and fishes. The cerebral ganglia and the ventral ganglionic chain were investigated in the earthworm. The tissue samples were processed for VIP radioimmunoassay. Our results show that the antiserum used in the radioimmunoassay turned to be C-terminal specific, without significant affinity to other members of the VIP peptide family. Detection limit of the assay was 0.1 fmol/ml. Highest concentrations were found in the turtle diencephalon, followed by other brain areas in the turtle and rat. All other brain areas in the examined species contained significant levels of VIP. Immunoreactivity was also shown in the cerebral and ventral ganglia of the earthworm. In summary, our results show comparative quantitative distribution in representative species of the phylogenetic line, using the same experimental conditions.
Németh
József
J
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Neuropharmacology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Pécs, P.O. Box 99, H-7643, Pécs, Hungary.
Jakab
Balázs
B
Reglodi
Dóra
D
Lubics
Andrea
A
Józsa
Rita
R
Hollósy
Tibor
T
Tamás
Andrea
A
Lengvári
István
I
Görcs
Tamás
T
Szolcsányi
János
J
D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D009835:Oligochaeta; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D011895:Rana ridibunda; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D014426:Turtles; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide