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Expression of C‐Type Natriuretic Peptide in the Bovine Pineal Gland
Author(s) -
Middendorff Ralf,
Maronde Erik,
Paust HansJoachim,
Müller Dieter,
Davidoff Michail,
Olcese James
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67020517.x
Subject(s) - pinealocyte , pineal gland , natriuretic peptide , medicine , endocrinology , atrial natriuretic peptide , npr2 , receptor , npr1 , biology , paracrine signalling , brain natriuretic peptide , prohormone , secretion , melatonin , chemistry , hormone , heart failure
Recent studies have pointed to membrane‐bound guanylyl cyclases (GCs) type A and type B in the rat pineal gland, which augment levels of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C‐type natriuretic peptide (CNP). The present report demonstrates for the first time the expression of CNP in the bovine pineal gland. The CNP prohormone transcript (unlike prepro‐ANP) was found by reverse transcriptase (RT)‐PCR in bovine pineal extracts. CNP immunoreactivity (ir) was revealed in a subpopulation of pinealocytes in situ and in nearly all pinealocytes in culture. Electron microscopic immunohistochemical investigations showed the presence of CNP‐ir in cytoplasmic vesicles, providing evidence for the potential secretion of this peptide by pineal cells. Furthermore, the CNP receptor (GC‐B) and GC‐A (receptor for ANP and BNP) were identified by RT‐PCR. Although melatonin secretion was unaffected, natriuretic peptides were able to elevate markedly cGMP production in cultured bovine pinealocytes with a rank order of potency of CNP > BNP = ANP. These findings describe a tissue CNP system in the bovine pineal gland and suggest that CNP may be a local auto‐ or paracrine modulator of pineal function.