title: Occurrence of beta-endorphin binding sites in the pituitary of the frog Rana esculenta: effect of beta-endorphin on luteinizing hormone secretion.
abstract: The possible effect of proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide, beta-endorphin on frog gonadotrope cells was investigated. Binding and internalization of beta-endorphin to pituitary pars distalis cultured cells were visualized by immunofluorescence and analyzed by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy. Using biotinylated endorphin, the time-course of beta-binding showed that this opioid was internalized through receptor-mediated endocytosis, the mechanism in which actin and clathrin were involved; then, the lysosomal degradation program occurred at later stages. The beta-endorphin binding was well antagonized by Naloxone, the opiate receptor antagonist, and up-regulated since more rapid response was obtained in the previously primed cells. The double immunostaining reaction for beta-endorphin and LH beta-subunit revealed that half the beta-endorphin labeled cell population was positively immunostained for LH beta-subunit, and beta-endorphin was able to induce an increasing trend of LH secretion in cultured pars distalis cells. Therefore, it seems that beta-endorphin acts directly on pituitary pars distalis and influences gonadotropin secretion through the interaction with its own receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Morphology and Biochemistry, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sabbieti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menghi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kikuyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaudry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polzonetti-Magni
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002966:Clathrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002966:Clathrin; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone