Regional Distribution of Pro-Opiomelanocortin-Derived Peptides in the Human Brain

Vol. 38, No. 1, 1984

Free Abstract Article (PDF 2500 KB)

Original Paper

Regional Distribution of Pro-Opiomelanocortin-Derived Peptides in the Human Brain
Piers C. Emson^a, Roger Corder^b, Sally J. Ratter^b, Sue Tomlin^b, Philip J. Lowry^b, Lesley H. Rees^b, Alberto Arregui^b, Martin N. Rossor^a

^aMRC Neurochemical Pharmacology Unit, Medical Research Council Centre, Cambridge, and
^bDepartments of Chemical Endocrinology and Chemical Pathology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroendocrinology 1984;38:45-50 (DOI: 10.1159/000123864)

Key Words

-Endorphin
ACTH
CLIP
Met-enkephalin
Human brain

Abstract

The regional distribution of pro-opiocortin-derived peptides and methionine enkephalin was investigated in human brain post-mortem. Sequence-directed radioimmunoassays for beta -endorphin, gamma -lipotropin, adrenocorticotrophin, corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (ACTH_18-39, CLIP) alpha -MSH and methionine enkephalin were used and 40 different human brain areas were assayed. The regional distribution of all the pro-opiomelanocortin-derived immunoreactivi-ties were correlated with highest amounts of beta -endorphin, gamma -lipotropin and ACTH in the hypothalamus, amygdala, peri-ventricular grey, substantia nigra and superior colliculus. The distribution of beta -endorphin, gamma -lipotropin and ACTH did not parallel the distribution of methionine-enkephalin immunoreactivity which was present in the globus pallidus, nucleus accumbens and substantia nigra. Gel exclusion chromatography (G-50) showed that pro-opiocortin-related peptides in the human hypothalamus and periventricular grey separated in positions consistent with the major immunoreactive forms being beta -endorphin, gamma -lipotropin, ACTH and CLIP.

Author Contacts

P.C Emson, MRC Neurochemical Pharmacology Unit, Medical Research Council Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH (UK)

Article Information

Received: November 29, 1982
Accepted after revision: June 22, 1983
Published online: March 28, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 6

Special Subscription Offer
for INF Members!

This journal is part of the first subject package of the Karger

Journal Archive Collection

Information on packages (PDF)
Free sample issues

For non-native English speakers and international authors who would like assistance with their writing before submission, we suggest American Journal Experts for their scientific editing service.