Identification of proopiomelanocortin-producing cells in the rat pyloric antrum and duodenum by in situ mRNA-cDNA hybridization

Abstract

An in situ cDNA-mRNA hybridization histochemistry using a proopiomelanocortin(POMC) cDNA was performed in the rat antropyloric and duodenal mucosa to examine whether adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH)-related peptides in the gut are really derived from the expression of POMC gene. ACTH-related peptides were detected immunohistochemically using antiserum against ACTH. Cells with POMC-specific mRNA and ACTH-related peptides were found to scatter in the basal portion of antropyloric and duodenal mucosa, suggesting strongly that POMC is synthesized in some epithelial cells in the gut. Furthermore, it was also observed that some of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes in the tunica propria were reactive to both POMC cDNA and ACTH-antiserum.