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Roger Acher - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • guinea pig msel neurophysin sequence comparison of eight mammalian msel Neurophysins
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The amino acid sequence of guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin has been determined using tryptic peptides derived from the performic acid-oxidized protein and staphylococcal proteinase peptides obtained from the reduced-carboxamidomethylated neur-ophysin. Guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin consists of a 93-residue polypeptide chain that shows 12 substitutions and 2 deletions when compared to bovine MSEL-neurophysin. It displays the highest number of variations among known mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. These variations are mainly found in the C-terminal region (residues 88–93). Moreover guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin, like rat homologous protein, exhibits substitutions in positions 2, 5, 29 and 81 and lacks an arginine in the penultimate position. Comparison between eight mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins reveals a highly conserved region (residues 1 to 88) and a hypervariable region (residues 89 to 93/95). On the other hand the eight species examined are endowed with arginine vasopressin except pig, which has a lysine vasopressin. In the vasopressin-MSEL-neurophysin precursor, the hormonal moiety and the MSEL region of neurophysin (residues 1–9) are encoded by a common exon in ox, rat and man; it can be concluded that this exon is evolutionarily conservative in contrast to the one encoding the C-terminal region of MSEL-neurophysin.

  • bony fish Neurophysins identification of msel and vldv Neurophysins of the pollack pollachius virens
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Jacqueline Chauvet, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The two types of Neurophysins known in vertebrate species, namely MSEL-neurophysin (vasopressin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) and VLDV-neurophysin (oxytocin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) have been purified from the pollack (Pollachius virens) pituitary through a combination of molecular sieving and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Homogeneity has been checked by gel electrophoresis and rerun in HPLC. The apparent molecular masses measured by SDS-electrophoresis are near 12 kDa, significantly higher than those found for their mammalian homologues (10 kDa). The two types of Neurophysins have been recognized through their N-terminal amino acid sequences. The primary structure of MSEL-neurophysin has been partially determined using automated Edman degradation applied on native and reduced-alkylated protein, as well as peptides derived by trypsin or staphylococcal proteinase hydrolyses. Comparison of pollack MSEL-neurophysin with ox, goose and frog counterparts reveals that particular positions in the polypeptide chain are subjected to substitutions and that the numbers of substitutions do not seem closely related to the paleontological times of divergence between the different vertebrate classes.

  • Guinea pig MSEL‐neurophysin. Sequence comparison of eight mammalian MSEL‐Neurophysins
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The amino acid sequence of guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin has been determined using tryptic peptides derived from the performic acid-oxidized protein and staphylococcal proteinase peptides obtained from the reduced-carboxamidomethylated neur-ophysin. Guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin consists of a 93-residue polypeptide chain that shows 12 substitutions and 2 deletions when compared to bovine MSEL-neurophysin. It displays the highest number of variations among known mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. These variations are mainly found in the C-terminal region (residues 88–93). Moreover guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin, like rat homologous protein, exhibits substitutions in positions 2, 5, 29 and 81 and lacks an arginine in the penultimate position. Comparison between eight mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins reveals a highly conserved region (residues 1 to 88) and a hypervariable region (residues 89 to 93/95). On the other hand the eight species examined are endowed with arginine vasopressin except pig, which has a lysine vasopressin. In the vasopressin-MSEL-neurophysin precursor, the hormonal moiety and the MSEL region of neurophysin (residues 1–9) are encoded by a common exon in ox, rat and man; it can be concluded that this exon is evolutionarily conservative in contrast to the one encoding the C-terminal region of MSEL-neurophysin.

  • non mammalian big Neurophysins complete amino acid sequence of a two domain msel neurophysin from goose
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: G Michel, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Brigitte Lévy, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    Vasotocin-associated neurophysin (MSEL-neurophysin) has been purified from goose neurohypophysis through molecular sieving and high-pressure reverse-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC). The protein has a molecular mass (measured by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) of 17 kDa in contrast to 10 kDa found for the mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. Complete amino acid sequence (131 residues) has been determined mainly through tryptic or staphylococcal proteinase peptides derived from carboxyamidomethylated neurophysin, isolated by HPLC and microsequenced. N- and C-terminal sequences have been established by Edman degradation or action of carboxypeptidase Y, respectively, applied on the native protein. Goose MSEL-neurophysin is homologous to the two-domain "big" MSEL-neurophysin previously identified in the frog. It appears that in non-mammalian tetrapods, namely birds and amphibians, the proteolytic processing of the pro-vasotocin involves only one cleavage, releasing the hormone moiety and a "big" neurophysin with two domains homologous to mammalian MSEL-neurophysin and copeptin, respectively. Comparison of the avian protein with its mammalian and amphibian counterparts reveals that the first half of the polypeptide chain is evolutionarily much less variable than the second and that the goose protein resembles the frog protein much more than the mammalian one.

  • identification of two types of Neurophysins in xenopus laevis neurointermediate pituitary homologous to mammalian msel and vldv Neurophysins
    Neuropeptides, 1990
    Co-Authors: Jacqueline Chauvet, Y Rouille, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, G Michel, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    Abstract Xenopus laevis Neurophysins have been purified from neurointermediate pituitaries through high-pressure reverse-phase liquid chromatography and their N-terminal amino acid sequences have been determined by microsequencing. Two types of Neurophysins, corresponding to mammalian MSEL- and VLDV-Neurophysins, have been distinguished. A strong homology exists between Neurophysins of Xenopus (Pipidae) , frog ( Ranidae ) and toad ( Bufonidae ). Xenopus MSEL-neurophysin, as frog MSEL-neurophysin, has a high molecular mass suggesting that the C-terminal domain of the vasotocin precursor is not processed in contrast to the two-step processing observed for mammalian vasopressin precursor.

Jacqueline Chauvet - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • guinea pig msel neurophysin sequence comparison of eight mammalian msel Neurophysins
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The amino acid sequence of guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin has been determined using tryptic peptides derived from the performic acid-oxidized protein and staphylococcal proteinase peptides obtained from the reduced-carboxamidomethylated neur-ophysin. Guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin consists of a 93-residue polypeptide chain that shows 12 substitutions and 2 deletions when compared to bovine MSEL-neurophysin. It displays the highest number of variations among known mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. These variations are mainly found in the C-terminal region (residues 88–93). Moreover guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin, like rat homologous protein, exhibits substitutions in positions 2, 5, 29 and 81 and lacks an arginine in the penultimate position. Comparison between eight mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins reveals a highly conserved region (residues 1 to 88) and a hypervariable region (residues 89 to 93/95). On the other hand the eight species examined are endowed with arginine vasopressin except pig, which has a lysine vasopressin. In the vasopressin-MSEL-neurophysin precursor, the hormonal moiety and the MSEL region of neurophysin (residues 1–9) are encoded by a common exon in ox, rat and man; it can be concluded that this exon is evolutionarily conservative in contrast to the one encoding the C-terminal region of MSEL-neurophysin.

  • bony fish Neurophysins identification of msel and vldv Neurophysins of the pollack pollachius virens
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Jacqueline Chauvet, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The two types of Neurophysins known in vertebrate species, namely MSEL-neurophysin (vasopressin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) and VLDV-neurophysin (oxytocin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) have been purified from the pollack (Pollachius virens) pituitary through a combination of molecular sieving and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Homogeneity has been checked by gel electrophoresis and rerun in HPLC. The apparent molecular masses measured by SDS-electrophoresis are near 12 kDa, significantly higher than those found for their mammalian homologues (10 kDa). The two types of Neurophysins have been recognized through their N-terminal amino acid sequences. The primary structure of MSEL-neurophysin has been partially determined using automated Edman degradation applied on native and reduced-alkylated protein, as well as peptides derived by trypsin or staphylococcal proteinase hydrolyses. Comparison of pollack MSEL-neurophysin with ox, goose and frog counterparts reveals that particular positions in the polypeptide chain are subjected to substitutions and that the numbers of substitutions do not seem closely related to the paleontological times of divergence between the different vertebrate classes.

  • Guinea pig MSEL‐neurophysin. Sequence comparison of eight mammalian MSEL‐Neurophysins
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The amino acid sequence of guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin has been determined using tryptic peptides derived from the performic acid-oxidized protein and staphylococcal proteinase peptides obtained from the reduced-carboxamidomethylated neur-ophysin. Guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin consists of a 93-residue polypeptide chain that shows 12 substitutions and 2 deletions when compared to bovine MSEL-neurophysin. It displays the highest number of variations among known mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. These variations are mainly found in the C-terminal region (residues 88–93). Moreover guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin, like rat homologous protein, exhibits substitutions in positions 2, 5, 29 and 81 and lacks an arginine in the penultimate position. Comparison between eight mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins reveals a highly conserved region (residues 1 to 88) and a hypervariable region (residues 89 to 93/95). On the other hand the eight species examined are endowed with arginine vasopressin except pig, which has a lysine vasopressin. In the vasopressin-MSEL-neurophysin precursor, the hormonal moiety and the MSEL region of neurophysin (residues 1–9) are encoded by a common exon in ox, rat and man; it can be concluded that this exon is evolutionarily conservative in contrast to the one encoding the C-terminal region of MSEL-neurophysin.

  • non mammalian big Neurophysins complete amino acid sequence of a two domain msel neurophysin from goose
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: G Michel, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Brigitte Lévy, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    Vasotocin-associated neurophysin (MSEL-neurophysin) has been purified from goose neurohypophysis through molecular sieving and high-pressure reverse-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC). The protein has a molecular mass (measured by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) of 17 kDa in contrast to 10 kDa found for the mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. Complete amino acid sequence (131 residues) has been determined mainly through tryptic or staphylococcal proteinase peptides derived from carboxyamidomethylated neurophysin, isolated by HPLC and microsequenced. N- and C-terminal sequences have been established by Edman degradation or action of carboxypeptidase Y, respectively, applied on the native protein. Goose MSEL-neurophysin is homologous to the two-domain "big" MSEL-neurophysin previously identified in the frog. It appears that in non-mammalian tetrapods, namely birds and amphibians, the proteolytic processing of the pro-vasotocin involves only one cleavage, releasing the hormone moiety and a "big" neurophysin with two domains homologous to mammalian MSEL-neurophysin and copeptin, respectively. Comparison of the avian protein with its mammalian and amphibian counterparts reveals that the first half of the polypeptide chain is evolutionarily much less variable than the second and that the goose protein resembles the frog protein much more than the mammalian one.

  • identification of two types of Neurophysins in xenopus laevis neurointermediate pituitary homologous to mammalian msel and vldv Neurophysins
    Neuropeptides, 1990
    Co-Authors: Jacqueline Chauvet, Y Rouille, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, G Michel, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    Abstract Xenopus laevis Neurophysins have been purified from neurointermediate pituitaries through high-pressure reverse-phase liquid chromatography and their N-terminal amino acid sequences have been determined by microsequencing. Two types of Neurophysins, corresponding to mammalian MSEL- and VLDV-Neurophysins, have been distinguished. A strong homology exists between Neurophysins of Xenopus (Pipidae) , frog ( Ranidae ) and toad ( Bufonidae ). Xenopus MSEL-neurophysin, as frog MSEL-neurophysin, has a high molecular mass suggesting that the C-terminal domain of the vasotocin precursor is not processed in contrast to the two-step processing observed for mammalian vasopressin precursor.

Marie-thérèse Chauvet - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • guinea pig msel neurophysin sequence comparison of eight mammalian msel Neurophysins
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The amino acid sequence of guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin has been determined using tryptic peptides derived from the performic acid-oxidized protein and staphylococcal proteinase peptides obtained from the reduced-carboxamidomethylated neur-ophysin. Guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin consists of a 93-residue polypeptide chain that shows 12 substitutions and 2 deletions when compared to bovine MSEL-neurophysin. It displays the highest number of variations among known mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. These variations are mainly found in the C-terminal region (residues 88–93). Moreover guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin, like rat homologous protein, exhibits substitutions in positions 2, 5, 29 and 81 and lacks an arginine in the penultimate position. Comparison between eight mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins reveals a highly conserved region (residues 1 to 88) and a hypervariable region (residues 89 to 93/95). On the other hand the eight species examined are endowed with arginine vasopressin except pig, which has a lysine vasopressin. In the vasopressin-MSEL-neurophysin precursor, the hormonal moiety and the MSEL region of neurophysin (residues 1–9) are encoded by a common exon in ox, rat and man; it can be concluded that this exon is evolutionarily conservative in contrast to the one encoding the C-terminal region of MSEL-neurophysin.

  • bony fish Neurophysins identification of msel and vldv Neurophysins of the pollack pollachius virens
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Jacqueline Chauvet, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The two types of Neurophysins known in vertebrate species, namely MSEL-neurophysin (vasopressin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) and VLDV-neurophysin (oxytocin-like hormone-associated neurophysin) have been purified from the pollack (Pollachius virens) pituitary through a combination of molecular sieving and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Homogeneity has been checked by gel electrophoresis and rerun in HPLC. The apparent molecular masses measured by SDS-electrophoresis are near 12 kDa, significantly higher than those found for their mammalian homologues (10 kDa). The two types of Neurophysins have been recognized through their N-terminal amino acid sequences. The primary structure of MSEL-neurophysin has been partially determined using automated Edman degradation applied on native and reduced-alkylated protein, as well as peptides derived by trypsin or staphylococcal proteinase hydrolyses. Comparison of pollack MSEL-neurophysin with ox, goose and frog counterparts reveals that particular positions in the polypeptide chain are subjected to substitutions and that the numbers of substitutions do not seem closely related to the paleontological times of divergence between the different vertebrate classes.

  • Guinea pig MSEL‐neurophysin. Sequence comparison of eight mammalian MSEL‐Neurophysins
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    The amino acid sequence of guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin has been determined using tryptic peptides derived from the performic acid-oxidized protein and staphylococcal proteinase peptides obtained from the reduced-carboxamidomethylated neur-ophysin. Guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin consists of a 93-residue polypeptide chain that shows 12 substitutions and 2 deletions when compared to bovine MSEL-neurophysin. It displays the highest number of variations among known mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. These variations are mainly found in the C-terminal region (residues 88–93). Moreover guinea pig MSEL-neurophysin, like rat homologous protein, exhibits substitutions in positions 2, 5, 29 and 81 and lacks an arginine in the penultimate position. Comparison between eight mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins reveals a highly conserved region (residues 1 to 88) and a hypervariable region (residues 89 to 93/95). On the other hand the eight species examined are endowed with arginine vasopressin except pig, which has a lysine vasopressin. In the vasopressin-MSEL-neurophysin precursor, the hormonal moiety and the MSEL region of neurophysin (residues 1–9) are encoded by a common exon in ox, rat and man; it can be concluded that this exon is evolutionarily conservative in contrast to the one encoding the C-terminal region of MSEL-neurophysin.

  • non mammalian big Neurophysins complete amino acid sequence of a two domain msel neurophysin from goose
    International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research, 2009
    Co-Authors: G Michel, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, Jacqueline Chauvet, Brigitte Lévy, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    Vasotocin-associated neurophysin (MSEL-neurophysin) has been purified from goose neurohypophysis through molecular sieving and high-pressure reverse-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC). The protein has a molecular mass (measured by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) of 17 kDa in contrast to 10 kDa found for the mammalian MSEL-Neurophysins. Complete amino acid sequence (131 residues) has been determined mainly through tryptic or staphylococcal proteinase peptides derived from carboxyamidomethylated neurophysin, isolated by HPLC and microsequenced. N- and C-terminal sequences have been established by Edman degradation or action of carboxypeptidase Y, respectively, applied on the native protein. Goose MSEL-neurophysin is homologous to the two-domain "big" MSEL-neurophysin previously identified in the frog. It appears that in non-mammalian tetrapods, namely birds and amphibians, the proteolytic processing of the pro-vasotocin involves only one cleavage, releasing the hormone moiety and a "big" neurophysin with two domains homologous to mammalian MSEL-neurophysin and copeptin, respectively. Comparison of the avian protein with its mammalian and amphibian counterparts reveals that the first half of the polypeptide chain is evolutionarily much less variable than the second and that the goose protein resembles the frog protein much more than the mammalian one.

  • identification of two types of Neurophysins in xenopus laevis neurointermediate pituitary homologous to mammalian msel and vldv Neurophysins
    Neuropeptides, 1990
    Co-Authors: Jacqueline Chauvet, Y Rouille, Marie-thérèse Chauvet, G Michel, Roger Acher
    Abstract:

    Abstract Xenopus laevis Neurophysins have been purified from neurointermediate pituitaries through high-pressure reverse-phase liquid chromatography and their N-terminal amino acid sequences have been determined by microsequencing. Two types of Neurophysins, corresponding to mammalian MSEL- and VLDV-Neurophysins, have been distinguished. A strong homology exists between Neurophysins of Xenopus (Pipidae) , frog ( Ranidae ) and toad ( Bufonidae ). Xenopus MSEL-neurophysin, as frog MSEL-neurophysin, has a high molecular mass suggesting that the C-terminal domain of the vasotocin precursor is not processed in contrast to the two-step processing observed for mammalian vasopressin precursor.

J. M. Pérez-fígares - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Presence of an oxytocin-like peptide in the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis of a turtle (Mauremys caspica) and a snake (Natrix maura)
    Cell and Tissue Research, 1995
    Co-Authors: J. M. Pérez-fígares, J. M. Mancera, E. M. Rodríguez, F. Nualart, P. Fernández-llebrez
    Abstract:

    The probable presence of oxytocin in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of two reptilian species, the snake Natrix maura and the turtle Mauremys caspica , was re-investigated. A high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of the turtle neural lobe revealed the existence of vasotocin, mesotocin, and a third compound co-eluting with oxytocin. Brains from both species were fixed by vascular perfusion with Bouin's fluid. Adjacent paraffin sections were immunostained using antisera against the following substances: (1) bovine oxytocin-neurophysin; (2) a mixture of bovine oxytocin-neurophysin and vasopressin-neurophysin; (3) dogfish Neurophysins; (4) oxytocin; (5) arginine-vasotocin; (6) mesotocin; (7) somatostatin. Immunoreactivity against oxytocin was found in parvocellular neurons of the snake suprachiasmatic nucleus and cerebrospinal-fluid contacting neurons of the medial nucleus of the infundibular recess of both species, the latter immunoreactivity being much more conspicuous in the turtle. Numerous fibers containing immunoreactive oxytocin extended between the medial nucleus of the infundibular recess, and the internal region of the medium eminence and the neural lobe. The oxytocin-immunoreactivity in all locations was completely abolished by preabsorption of the anti-oxytocin serum with three different oxytocin preparations. None of the neurons of the suprachiasmatic and medial nucleus of the infundibular recess, including the oxytocin-immunoreactive elements, reacted with either the antineurophysin sera used, or the anti-vasotocin or anti-mesotocin antibodies. The possible existence of a reptilian oxytocin-neurophysin is discussed. The alternative that, in the reptilian hypothalamus, neurons synthesize a compound closely related to, but different from oxytocin is also considered.

  • Colloid droplets in the magnocellular secretory neurons of the reptilian hypothalamus: An immunocytochemical and lectin-histochemical study
    Cell and Tissue Research, 1990
    Co-Authors: P. Fernández-llebrez, J.a. Andrades, A. M. Lancha Bernal, E. M. Rodríguez, J. Pérez, J. M. Grondona, J. M. Mancera, J. M. Pérez-fígares
    Abstract:

    The immunocytochemical and lectin-binding properties of the magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the hypothalamus of 2 reptilian species, the snake Natrix maura and the lizard Liolaemus cyanogaster , were investigated. Particular attention was paid to the secretory droplets present in these neurons. Antisera against bovine Neurophysins I+II, arginine-vasotocin, and mesotocin were used. The following lectins were applied: concanavalin A (Con A), wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA), and Limax flavus agglutinin (LFA). Adjacent 1-μm-thick methacrylate sections were used to investigate the same secretory neuron and the same colloid droplets with all three antisera and all three lectins. Several sections were treated with trypsin and urea before immunostaining or lectin binding. Con A bound to both vasotocin- and mesotocin-immunoreactive neurons, WGA exclusively to vasotocin neurons; neither of these neurons reacted with LFA. The colloid droplets were present in vasotocin neurons but absent in the mesotocin neurons. These secretory droplets showed an affinity for Con A but not for WGA, and reacted with antisera against Neurophysins and vasotocin. In Natrix maura , the colloid droplets became reactive with Con A and the antisera used only after pretreatment of the sections with trypsin and urea. Within the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, antiserum against vasotocin and WGA revealed the same fiber bundles. It is concluded (i) that in reptiles the vasotocin-neurophysin precursor is glycosylated, (ii) that vasotocin neurons have the exclusive capacity to form colloid droplets, and (iii) that these droplets are an intracisternal (RER) storage form of the vasotocin-neurophysin precursor.

P. Fernández-llebrez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Presence of an oxytocin-like peptide in the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis of a turtle (Mauremys caspica) and a snake (Natrix maura)
    Cell and Tissue Research, 1995
    Co-Authors: J. M. Pérez-fígares, J. M. Mancera, E. M. Rodríguez, F. Nualart, P. Fernández-llebrez
    Abstract:

    The probable presence of oxytocin in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of two reptilian species, the snake Natrix maura and the turtle Mauremys caspica , was re-investigated. A high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of the turtle neural lobe revealed the existence of vasotocin, mesotocin, and a third compound co-eluting with oxytocin. Brains from both species were fixed by vascular perfusion with Bouin's fluid. Adjacent paraffin sections were immunostained using antisera against the following substances: (1) bovine oxytocin-neurophysin; (2) a mixture of bovine oxytocin-neurophysin and vasopressin-neurophysin; (3) dogfish Neurophysins; (4) oxytocin; (5) arginine-vasotocin; (6) mesotocin; (7) somatostatin. Immunoreactivity against oxytocin was found in parvocellular neurons of the snake suprachiasmatic nucleus and cerebrospinal-fluid contacting neurons of the medial nucleus of the infundibular recess of both species, the latter immunoreactivity being much more conspicuous in the turtle. Numerous fibers containing immunoreactive oxytocin extended between the medial nucleus of the infundibular recess, and the internal region of the medium eminence and the neural lobe. The oxytocin-immunoreactivity in all locations was completely abolished by preabsorption of the anti-oxytocin serum with three different oxytocin preparations. None of the neurons of the suprachiasmatic and medial nucleus of the infundibular recess, including the oxytocin-immunoreactive elements, reacted with either the antineurophysin sera used, or the anti-vasotocin or anti-mesotocin antibodies. The possible existence of a reptilian oxytocin-neurophysin is discussed. The alternative that, in the reptilian hypothalamus, neurons synthesize a compound closely related to, but different from oxytocin is also considered.

  • Colloid droplets in the magnocellular secretory neurons of the reptilian hypothalamus: An immunocytochemical and lectin-histochemical study
    Cell and Tissue Research, 1990
    Co-Authors: P. Fernández-llebrez, J.a. Andrades, A. M. Lancha Bernal, E. M. Rodríguez, J. Pérez, J. M. Grondona, J. M. Mancera, J. M. Pérez-fígares
    Abstract:

    The immunocytochemical and lectin-binding properties of the magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the hypothalamus of 2 reptilian species, the snake Natrix maura and the lizard Liolaemus cyanogaster , were investigated. Particular attention was paid to the secretory droplets present in these neurons. Antisera against bovine Neurophysins I+II, arginine-vasotocin, and mesotocin were used. The following lectins were applied: concanavalin A (Con A), wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA), and Limax flavus agglutinin (LFA). Adjacent 1-μm-thick methacrylate sections were used to investigate the same secretory neuron and the same colloid droplets with all three antisera and all three lectins. Several sections were treated with trypsin and urea before immunostaining or lectin binding. Con A bound to both vasotocin- and mesotocin-immunoreactive neurons, WGA exclusively to vasotocin neurons; neither of these neurons reacted with LFA. The colloid droplets were present in vasotocin neurons but absent in the mesotocin neurons. These secretory droplets showed an affinity for Con A but not for WGA, and reacted with antisera against Neurophysins and vasotocin. In Natrix maura , the colloid droplets became reactive with Con A and the antisera used only after pretreatment of the sections with trypsin and urea. Within the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, antiserum against vasotocin and WGA revealed the same fiber bundles. It is concluded (i) that in reptiles the vasotocin-neurophysin precursor is glycosylated, (ii) that vasotocin neurons have the exclusive capacity to form colloid droplets, and (iii) that these droplets are an intracisternal (RER) storage form of the vasotocin-neurophysin precursor.