Localization of xenopsin and xenopsin precursor fragment immunoreactivities in the skin and gastrointestinal tract of Xenopus laevis

Kirsten C. Sadler, Charles L. Bevins, Jane C. Kaltenbach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Xenopsin (Xp) and xenopsin precursor fragment (XPF) are bioactive peptides derived from a single precursor molecule; both were isolated previously from extracts of Xenopus laevis skin. The present immunohistochemical study was undertaken to determine the specific cellular localization of these two peptides in the skin and also in the gastrointestinal tract of adult Xenopus. We report here that Xp-like and XPF-like immuno-reactivities co-exist in the granular glands of the skin and specific granular cells in the lower esophagus and stomach. However, only Xp-like immunoreactivity, not XPF-like immunoreactivity, was detected in tall, thin cells of the duodenum and in club-shaped cells of the large intestine. The immunochemical co-localization of the two peptides in specific cells of the skin, lower esophagus and stomach suggests that the same gene is expressed in each of these cells, and that the precursor molecule undergoes similar post-translational processing. In contrast, the observation that certain cells of the duodenum and large intestine display only one peptide immunoreactivity suggests an alternative phenomenon, possibly involving selective peptide accumulation or expression of a different gene.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)257-263
Number of pages7
JournalCell & Tissue Research
Volume270
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1992

Keywords

  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Skin
  • Xenopsin
  • Xenopsin precursor fragment
  • Xenopus laevis (Anura)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Histology
  • Cell Biology

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