Endocrinology, Vol 127, 358-364, Copyright © 1990 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization studies of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase in pituitary gland

V May, L Ouafik, BA Eipper and KM Braas
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405.

The pituitary gland contains high levels of peptidylglycine alpha- amidating monooxygenase (PAM) activity and mRNA. Using affinity- purified rabbit polyclonal antisera generated to synthetic PAM peptides and PAM RNA probes, immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization studies were conducted to determine the tissue disposition and cell types expressing PAM in the adult male rat pituitary gland. PAM immunoreactivity was present at varying levels in nearly all of the anterior pituitary cells; one cell population stained intensely, while others stained moderately or weakly. These results correlated well with in situ hybridization studies that demonstrated high levels of PAM mRNA in a subpopulation comprising approximately 10-15% of the anterior pituitary cells. Based upon immunocytochemistry, intermediate pituitary lobe cells were divided into an intensely stained and a moderately stained group. PAM staining was also present in neural lobe fibers. Immunocytochemical staining of serial pituitary tissue sections for PAM and other pituitary hormones demonstrated that the anterior pituitary cells intensely stained for PAM represented a subpopulation of the gonadotropes. PAM was also identified at moderate levels in corticotropes and at lower levels in sommatotropes and lactotropes. These results suggest that many anterior pituitary cells are capable of producing amidated peptides along with their major peptide hormone.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. Garmendia, M. P. Rodriguez, M. A. Burrell, and A. C. Villaro Immunocytochemical Finding of the Amidating Enzymes in Mouse Pancreatic A-, B-, and D-cells: A Comparison with Human and Rat J. Histochem. Cytochem., October 1, 2002; 50(10): 1401 - 1416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. H. Burbach, S. M. Luckman, D. Murphy, and H. Gainer Gene Regulation in the Magnocellular Hypothalamo-Neurohypophysial System Physiol Rev, July 1, 2001; 81(3): 1197 - 1267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. El Meskini, R. E. Mains, and B. A. Eipper Cell Type-Specific Metabolism of Peptidylglycine {alpha}-Amidating Monooxygenase in Anterior Pituitary Endocrinology, August 1, 2000; 141(8): 3020 - 3034. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Guembe, A. C. Villaro, and A. M. Treston Immunocytochemical Mapping of the Amidating Enzyme PAM in the Developing and Adult Mouse Lung J. Histochem. Cytochem., May 1, 1999; 47(5): 623 - 636. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. D. Ciccotosto, M. R. Schiller, B. A. Eipper, and R. E. Mains Induction of Integral Membrane PAM Expression in AtT-20 Cells Alters the Storage and Trafficking of POMC and PC1 J. Cell Biol., February 8, 1999; 144(3): 459 - 471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. O. Bruhn, J. M. M. Rondeel, and I. M. D. Jackson Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene Expression in the Anterior Pituitary. IV. Evidence for Paracrine and Autocrine Regulation Endocrinology, August 1, 1998; 139(8): 3416 - 3422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. El Meskini, C. Delfino, F. Boudouresque, M. Hery, C. Oliver, and L'H. Ouafik Estrogen Regulation of Peptidylglycine {alpha}-Amidating Monooxygenase Expression in Anterior Pituitary Gland Endocrinology, January 1, 1997; 138(1): 379 - 388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Oyarce and B. Eipper Identification of subcellular compartments containing peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase in rat anterior pituitary J. Cell Sci., January 1, 1995; 108(1): 287 - 297. [Abstract] [PDF]