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G o , a GTP‐Binding Protein: Immunochemical and Immunohistochemical Localization in the Rat
Author(s) -
Asano Tomiko,
Semba Reiji,
Kamiya Nobuko,
Ogasawara Nobuaki,
Kato Kanefusa
Publication year - 1988
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 - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb10588.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , cerebrum , endocrinology , medicine , biology , pituitary gland , cerebellum , nervous tissue , enteroendocrine cell , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , central nervous system , hormone , endocrine system , neuroscience
The tissue and cellular distribution of a GTP‐binding protein, G o , was investigated in the rat by immunochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Because the specific antibody for the α subunit of bovine G o (G o α) cross‐reacted with rat G o α, an enzyme immunoassay method developed for bovine G o α was applied for measuring the tissue concentration of G o α in the rat. G o α was detected in all tissues examined except blood cells. The concentration of G o α was highest in the CNS (∼7.7 and 4.4 nmol/g in the cerebrum and cerebellum, respectively), followed by the pituitary gland and sciatic nerve. Among the other peripheral tissues, relatively high concentrations of G o α were observed in the urinary bladder, stomach, and intestines; however, these values were <2% of the concentration in the cerebrum. G o α in the intestine was located mostly in the muscle layer. Immunohistochemical study showed that G o α was associated mostly with the neural elements but not with cells particular to each peripheral organ. G o α was also present in the membranes of neuroen‐docrine cells, including glandular cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, chromaffin cells in the medulla of the adrenal gland, islets cells in the pancreas, and parafollicular cells in the thyroid. These results indicate that G o is localized exclusively in the nervous tissues and neuroendocrine cells.