title: Expression and immunohistochemical detection of nesfatin-1 in the gastrointestinal tract of Casertana pig.
abstract: In this study, we report nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity in the gastrointestinal tract of Casertana breed pig. The newly discovered anorexigenic peptide nesfatin-1 has been shown to possess physiological relevance in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis at a central level, although evidence has been accumulating that it may also play important functions at a more local gastroenteric level. Nesfatin-1 immunoreactive endocrine cells have been detected in the gastric fundus and ileocecal valve. Nesfatin-1 immunopositive neurons and nerve fibers have been observed mainly in the enteric plexuses. Western blot analysis confirmed the immunohistochemical observations, showing immunoreactive bands in all analyzed gastrointestinal tracts with the exception of the rectum. Nesfatin-1 immunodetection in the swine digestive system reinforces the importance of the role played by nesfatin-1 at the gastrointestinal level and sustains the necessity to study the role of this peptide in the regulation of food intake in farm species for which weight gain is essential for optimizing production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varricchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy; Centro Studi" Province of Benevento, University of Sannio, Contrada Piano Cappelle, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russolillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy. Electronic address: finiziarusso@unisannio.it.
authors.forename: Finizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of "Federico II", Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucianna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maruccio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000080866:Nucleobindins
keywords: Gastrointestinal tract; Immunohistochemistry; Nesfatin-1; Pig