Distribution of androgen-binding protein in the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, co-localization with oxytocin.
Androgen-binding protein (ABP) is known to be expressed in the male and female rat hypothalamus. In the present study, we observed immunocytochemically ABP in neurons of the magnocellular hypothalamic nuclei, in the preoptic region and in the lateral hypothalamus. Dense fiber networks with varicosities, containing ABP immunofluorescence, were visible throughout the hypothalamus, the median eminence and in the posterior pituitary lobe. Double immunostaining revealed a partial coexistence of ABP-and oxytocin immunoreactivity in a portion of the magnocellular perikarya. ABP was isolated by affinity chromatography from hypothalamus homogenates. Western blots resulted in immunoreactive (IR) bands with an approximate molecular weight of 35 and 50 kDa. Mass spectrometry of these preparations confirmed the presence of ABP, which was almost identical to ABP isolated from rat testis. It is likely that ABP, expressed in magnocellular oxytocinergic neurons, is subject to axonal transport and release in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system.
Herbert
Zsófia
Z
Institut für Anatomie II, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, Teichgraben 7, 07740, Jena, Germany. Zhert@mit-n.uni-jena.de
Jirikowski
Gustav Friedrich
GF
Petrusz
Peter
P
Englöf
Ila
I
Caldwell
Jack Daniel
JD
D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008473:Median Eminence / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D010121:Oxytocin