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Immunohistochemical Localization of Novel CART Peptides in Rat Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Adrenal Gland
Author(s) -
Koylu Ersin O.,
Couceyro Pastor R.,
Lambert Philip D.,
Ling Nicholas C.,
DeSouza Errol B.,
Kuhar Michael J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2826.1997.00651.x
Subject(s) - hypothalamus , endocrinology , medicine , cart , immunohistochemistry , pituitary gland , adrenal gland , neuroendocrinology , biology , hormone , mechanical engineering , engineering
CART peptide specific polyclonal antisera were raised in rabbits. The antisera were raised to CART peptide fragments that span most of the predicted CART protein. The specificity of each antisera was demonstrated by blockade of immunostaining by the immunizing peptide but not by the other CART peptide fragments. In the hypothalamus and pituitary of colchicine and noncolchicine treated rats, immunostaining was observed in cell bodies, fibers and varicosities. Clusters of cells were also stained in the adrenal medulla. It is noteworthy that cellular immunostaining was only found in areas previously shown to express CART mRNA. These findings indicate the presence of CART peptide(s) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal gland. Furthermore, we also present evidence for the possible processing of the CART pro‐peptide into smaller peptide fragments. These neuroanatomical findings suggest a role of CART peptides in hypothalamic, pituitary and adrenal function.