Presence of proenkephalin in chromaffin cells of the frog adrenal gland.
Using a specific antiserum to bovine proenkephalin 1-77 (synenkephalin), the distribution of this peptide in the frog adrenal gland has been studied by means of the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Proenkephalin immunoreactivity was found in all chromaffin cells, which also demonstrated enkephalin- and vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity. No nerve endings containing proenkephalin-, enkephalin-, or vasoactive intestinal peptide-like material could be detected. These data suggest a precursor-product mode of biosynthesis for enkephalins in amphibian chromaffin cells. On a phylogenic point of view, they further indicate a high stability of the structure of proenkephalin during the evolution process.
Leboulenger
F
F
Groupe de Recherche en Endocrinologie Moléculaire, ERA 891 CNRS, Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Rouen, 76130 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
Charnay
Y
Y
Dubois
P M
PM
Rossier
J
J
Vaudry
H
H