Elsevier

Peptides

Volume 8, Issue 5, September–October 1987, Pages 779-784
Peptides

Neuromedin U—A study of its distribution in the rat

https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-9781(87)90058-1Get rights and content

Abstract

The distribution of neuromedin U, a novel peptide originally isolated from porcine spinal cord, was investigated in the rat using a recently developed radioimmunoassay. High concentrations of neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity were found in the pituitary gland and gastrointestinal tract. Significant concentrations of immunoreactivity were also found in several regions of the rat brain, spinal cord and both male and female genitourinary tracts. In the small intestine, neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity was restricted to the submucosal muscular layers, suggesting localization in neurones rather than in epithelial cells. Chromatographic analysis of pituitary, spinal cord and gut revealed a single peak of immunoreactivity which did not co-elute with either synthetic porcine neuromedin U-25 nor neuromedin U-8, indicating inter-species molecular heterogeneity.

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      Neuromedin U (NMU) is a highly conserved neuropeptide that is present in various species from amphibians to mammals (for a review, see Brighton et al., 2004). The NMU peptide is widely distributed throughout the body in both peripheral organs and the central nervous system (CNS), with the highest levels being detected in the gastrointestinal tract, hypothalamus, and anterior pituitary gland of the brain (Domin et al., 1987; Ballesta et al., 1988; Graham et al., 2003). NMU-producing neurons are located in the hypothalamus and caudal brain stem areas in the brain (Ballesta et al., 1988; Howard et al., 2000).

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