Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Previous studies have identified a group of cells in the dorsolateral hypothalamus that project to many different areas in the CNS, such as thalamus, diagonal band of Broca, basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. Their role is presently unknown, but the cells have been reported to stain for an intriguing array of putative neurotransmitter-related substances, including alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha MSH), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), human growth-hormone-releasing factor 1-37 (hGRF 1-37), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), metorphamide, and acetylcholine esterase. A monoclonal antibody produced in the present study, alpha C11, stains both the cell bodies of this system in hypothalamus, with a punctate pattern, and varicose fibers in the various target areas. In double-label immunocytochemical experiments in rat DLH, alpha C11 and MCH staining exactly overlaps. Concentrations of alpha MSH and MCH high enough to completely block staining with the corresponding antisera had no effect on staining with alpha C11. Similarly, CRF, hGRF 1-37, and metorphamide were unable to block alpha C11 staining. The results suggest that the antigenic epitope for alpha C11 is not contained in alpha MSH, MCH, CRF, hGRF, or metorphamide, and thus, that alpha C11 is detecting another antigen uniquely expressed in these neurons. The punctate appearance of staining in the hypothalamus and the concentration of staining in fiber varicosities suggests that the alpha C11 epitope may be involved in synaptic function.
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PMID:Novel antigenic determinant expressed in neurons of the dorsolateral hypothalamus in rat and human. 137 80

The immunocytochemical distribution of CLIP (corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide) or ACTH(18-39), a small biologically active peptide, was examined in the human brain, using a monoclonal antibody against this peptide. Groups of CLIP-immunoreactive cell bodies, small to medium size and bipolar or triangular in shape, were found in the basal hypothalamus extending from the retrochiasmatic region to the premammillary nuclei area. Immunoreactive fibers with varicosities, terminals and "pipe shape" structures, were distributed within the hypothalamus, limbic structures, the brainstem and spinal cord nuclei, forming a particularly rich network in the hypothalamus, the preoptic area, the septal region, the amygdala and the upper brainstem periaqueductal gray matter. The above neuroanatomical observations confirm and extend previous findings in animals, strengthening even more the possibility that this peptide may be involved in numerous behavioral, autonomic and physiological functions such as regulation of sleep-waking cycle, pain control and respiratory and cardiovascular regulation.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical distribution of corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP) immunoreactivity in the human brain. 184 84

An analysis of Nissl stained sections of the spinal cord taken from four species of elasmobranch showed that seven distinct cytoarchitectonic laminae are present. These laminae are compared with laminae described previously in the spinal cord of other vertebrates. The distribution of immunoreactivity to serotonin, substance P, somatostatin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, and bombesin was determined in the brown stringray (Dasyatis fluviorum), the eagle ray (Aetobatis narinari), the shovelnose ray (Rhinobatis battilum), and the black-tip shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). In all species, dense immunoreactivity to most substances tested was found in the outer part of the substantia gelatinosa. Many fibres and varicosities immunoreactive to substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and bombesin were found in this region and smaller numbers of fibres were found in the nucleus proprius. Immunoreactivity to somatostatin consisted of coarse fibre bundles that entered the dorsal horn at the nucleus proprius and radiated dorsally to the substantia gelatinosa. Axons and varicosities immunoreactive to serotonin and neuropeptide Y were found in all regions of the dorsal horn but were concentrated in the outer part of the substantia gelatinosa. The distribution of immunoreactivity to met-enkephalin in the shovelnose ray was concentrated in the lateral third of the substantia gelatinosa and to a lesser extent in the nucleus proprius. The distribution of these substances is compared with that described in other vertebrates. Although the sensory information reaching the elasmobranch spinal cord is limited, compared with that of mammalian species, the distribution of these neuroactive factors in the dorsal horn of the two groups is strikingly similar.
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PMID:Organization of the spinal cord in four species of elasmobranch fish: cytoarchitecture and distribution of serotonin and selected neuropeptides. 237 Mar 20

The ultrastructural localization and relations of substance P- and met-enkephalin-labeled neuronal structures were examined in the wall of the human gastric antrum during early fetal life. By 14-16 weeks of gestation, clearly discernable neural plexuses and a well developed external muscle coat were present. In the submucous coat, neural plexuses varied from immature forms consisting of 1-4 neurites partially enveloped by Schwann cell processes to more mature plexuses where neurons were completely enclosed by Schwann cell processes. Neuronal profiles with substance P- and met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities were observed in the submucous plexus. In the myenteric plexus met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity was seen within cell bodies and neurites. By contrast, although substance P-like immunoreactivity was observed in neurites in the myenteric plexus, no substance P-labeled somata could be identified. Unlabeled terminals were seen in contact with both unlabeled dendrites and met-enkephalinergic neurons. An increase in electron density was observed at the sites of contact. These structures probably represent early stages in the development of synaptic specializations. In addition, met-enkephalin-labeled varicosities were seen in apposition to smooth muscle cells of the circular muscle coat. This suggests that antral smooth muscle cells are directly innervated by met-enkephalin neurons.
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PMID:Ultrastructure and localization of substance P and met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the human fetal gastric antrum. 241 74

We have developed a dissociated primary cell culture of noradrenergic neurons from the locus ceruleus of postnatal (1- to 5-d-old) mice or rats. Slices of the brain stem were made on a Vibratome. Then the region of locus ceruleus, which was identified by observing the slices under a dissecting microscope, was dissected out from the slices. The removed fragments of brain slices were dissociated and cultured up to 3 weeks on a non-neuronal feeder layer, which consisted predominantly of astroglial cells, or on a fibronectin-treated collagen substratum. After 2 weeks of culture, about 70% of total neuronlike cells revealed positive catecholamine histofluorescence, indicating that they were probably noradrenergic neurons. About 98% of large- and medium-sized cultured neurons (soma diameter greater than or equal to 20 microns) was histofluorescence positive. The fluorescence-positive cells had long processes rich in varicosities, and the shape of their soma was either multipolar or fusiform. Electron microscopy using permanganate fixation revealed that the varicosities along their processes had small granular vesicles, which may contain norepinephrine. Physiological properties of these noradrenergic neurons were investigated with intracellular microelectrodes or with the whole-cell version of the patch clamp. We observed that many cells were producing spontaneous firing. Many of these spontaneously firing cells had no obvious contact with neighboring cells. The neurons were depolarized when glutamate was applied by pressure ejection. They also responded to GABA and glycine with either hyperpolarization or depolarization, and these responses were antagonized by picrotoxin and strychnine. Application of substance P generally produced depolarization with an increase in input resistance. The neurons responded with hyperpolarization to somatostatin, beta-endorphin, and enkephalin. This culture system will become a useful tool for elucidating the cellular and molecular properties of the central noradrenergic neurons.
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PMID:Noradrenergic neurons from the locus ceruleus in dissociated cell culture: culture methods, morphology, and electrophysiology. 243 74

The supraoptic nucleus of male and female rats treated with met-enkephalin or naloxone and met-enkephalin was examined with light microscopical immunocytochemistry for Arginine-vasopressin. Both genders exhibited the same distribution of immunostained magnocellular neurons. Met-enkephalin treatment caused an increase in number of immunostained vasopressin neurons. This effect was more pronounced in females than in males. Naloxone treatment diminished immunoreactive cytoplasmic vasopressin in males more effectively than in females. In enkephalin-treated animals numerous vasopressin immunoreactive varicosities appeared within the supraoptic nucleus, but were mostly absent in naloxone-treated animals and in controls. Our results indicate that met-enkephalin treatment either stimulates vasopressin synthesis or inhibits secretion. It is likely that steroid hormones mediate the action of enkephalin on vasopressin secretion in a specific manner.
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PMID:Sex-specific effects of met-enkephalin treatment on vasopressin immunoreactivity in the rat supraoptic nucleus. 247 72

Extracellular recording in guinea-pig or mouse vas deferens or rat tail artery was used to study the effects of some pharmacological agents on the nerve terminal spike (NTS) and the secretion of a sympathetic co-transmitter (presumably ATP), as reflected in the excitatory junction current (EJC). A negative-going EJCi (i for inside) was assumed to reflect release from sites inside, and a positive-going EJCo (o for outside) release from sites outside the recording electrode. Passage into or out of the electrode seemed to be slow. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) in the outer medium blocked the NTS and ECJo as well as EJCi; TTX in the pipette blocked stimulus-evoked but not spontaneous EJCi. The dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocking agent, nifedipine, was without effect, but Cd2+ in the external medium blocked EJCo and also, by an effect apparently 'upstream' of varicosities, inhibited EJCi (i.e. release within the patch) but not the NTS. When present in the outer medium the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine and xylazine, blocked both EJCo and EJCi, but not the NTS. The effects of clonidine were blocked by yohimbine, which in itself increased the EJCo by about 50%. Neuropeptide Y and met-enkephalin in the outer medium blocked EJCo; the effect of met-enkephalin was blocked by naloxone. The K+ channel blocking agents, tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine, inside or outside the electrode, increased dramatically the size of EJCi or EJCo, respectively.
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PMID:Some pharmacological applications of an extracellular recording method to study secretion of a sympathetic co-transmitter, presumably ATP. 256 19

Paraffin sections of cervical and upper thoracic paravertebral ganglia of the cat were investigated by immunohistochemistry using antisera directed against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The relationships of CGRP-immunoreactive structures to those exhibiting immunoreactivity to antisera against other regulatory peptides and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), respectively, were studied in consecutive sections. Singly scattered CGRP-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were observed in the superior and middle cervical ganglia as well as in the stellate ganglion. These neurons also displayed immunoreactivity to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and some additionally exhibited faint substance-P immunoreactivity. DBH- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive ganglion cells were not identical with CGRP-immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies. According to the immunoreactive properties of varicosities, which abut on CGRP/VIP-immunoreactive perikarya, three types of CGRP/VIP-immunoreactive ganglion cells could be distinguished: (1) CGRP/VIP-immunoreactive neurons being surrounded by somatostatin-immunoreactive nerve fibers, (2) neurons being approached by both DBH- and met-enkephalin-immunoreactive varicosities, and (3) neurons receiving both DBH- and neurotensin-immunoreactive fibers. The stellate and upper thoracic ganglia harbored clusters of intensely VIP-immunoreactive somata, which lacked CGRP-immunoreactivity. Fine somatostatin-immunoreactive and coarse CGRP-immunoreactive fibers were distributed within these clusters, whereas patches of neurotensin-immunoreactive fibers were complementarily arranged. At all segmental levels investigated, a few postganglionic neurons were approached by both CGRP-immunoreactive and substance P-immunoreactive varicosities, but lacked a VIP-immunoreactive innervation. Therefore, CGRP/substance P-immunoreactive fiber baskets appeared rather to be of extraganglionic origin than to emerge from intraganglionic CGRP/VIP/SP neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Neuropeptide distribution in the cervico-thoracic paravertebral ganglia of the cat with particular reference to calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity. 289 95

The detailed distribution of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), beta-endorphin (beta-END) and alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) immunoreactivity was examined in the rat median eminence (ME) and pituitary stalk using light microscopic immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Nerve fibers and varicosities immunoreactive for ACTH/beta-END/alpha-MSH had identical distributions in the ME suggesting that they are part of the same arcuate proopiomelanocortin neuronal (POMC) system. The quantitative image analysis of POMC immunoreactive varicosities in the ME indicates no significant differences between the various rostro-caudal segments. In the main (preinfundibular) portion of the ME, a moderate density of immunoreactive elements was located in the lateral part of the internal zone and throughout the postinfundibular ME. Very few scattered varicosities were observed in the neurohemal (external) zone and in the pituitary stalk. By RIA, alpha-MSH is present in a substantially higher concentration than ACTH and beta-END throughout the ME. Knife cuts between the arcuate nucleus and ME indicate that proopiomelanocortin (POMC) fibers enter the ME in its whole rostro-caudal extent. Thus POMC neurons seem to provide innervation of structures in the internal zone but not in the neurohemal/external/zone where the portal capillary system is located. Moreover, the observation that the density of immunoreactive elements is substantially lower in the pituitary stalk than in the ME, suggests that the majority of immunoreactive fibers in the internal zone are not fibers of passage directed towards the neurohypophysis.
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PMID:Topographical distribution of pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides (ACTH/beta-END/alpha-MSH) in the rat median eminence. 298 39

The distribution of FMRFamidelike peptides was studied in the nervous system of the lobster Homarus americanus by using immunocytochemical and radioimmunological techniques. By radioimmunoassay FMRFamidelike immunoreactivity (FLI) was found in low levels (ca. 1 pmol/mg protein) throughout the ventral nerve cord and in much higher amounts (60-100 pmol/mg protein) in the neurosecretory pericardial organs. Immunocytochemical studies showed FLI in approximately 300-350 cell bodies, and in distinct neuropil regions, neuronal fiber tracts, and varicose endings. Specificity of the immunostaining was tested by preabsorbing the antiserum with FMRFamide, with peptides having similar carboxyl termini to FMRFamide (Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe, Phe-Met-Arg-Tyr-amide), with several amidated peptides (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, substance P, oxytocin), and with proctolin, a peptide found widely distributed in the lobster nervous system. Of these substances, only FMRFamide blocked the staining. In addition to the pericardial organs, significant levels of FLI were found in neurosecretory regions associated with thoracic second roots and in the connective tissue sheath that surrounds the ventral nerve cord. In all three regions, immunocytochemical studies showed the FLI to be localized to fine fibers and associated terminal varicosities lying close to the surface of the tissue, with no obvious target in their immediate vicinity. When examined at the ultrastructural level, the immunoreactive varicosities of the thoracic second roots and of the ventral nerve cord sheaths were found a few microns from the surface of the tissue and contained electron-dense granules. In the immunoreactive nerve cord sheath endings, in addition to the large, dense granules, small, clear vesicles were found. The appearance and location of these terminals suggest a neurohormonal role for FMRFamidelike peptides in lobsters. The observation that low levels of FLI are found in the hemolymph supports this suggestion. In addition, the localization of FLI to particular neuronal somata, fiber tracts, and neuropil regions suggests possible functional roles for these peptides in (1) integration of visual and olfactory information, (2) function of the anterior and posterior gut, and (3) the control of exoskeletal muscles.
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PMID:FMRFamidelike peptides of Homarus americanus: distribution, immunocytochemical mapping, and ultrastructural localization in terminal varicosities. 332 67


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