Two vasopressin-like peptides in the pig testis?

in Journal of Endocrinology
Authors:
H. D. Nicholson
Search for other papers by H. D. Nicholson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
A. J. Smith
Search for other papers by A. J. Smith in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
S. D. Birkett
Search for other papers by S. D. Birkett in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
P. A. Denning-Kendall
Search for other papers by P. A. Denning-Kendall in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
B. T. Pickering
Search for other papers by B. T. Pickering in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access
Rent on DeepDyve

Sign up for journal news

ABSTRACT

Vasopressin (VP)-like immunoreactivity (IR) has been located in the testes of several species of mammal. There is evidence that most of this IR in the rat does not represent authentic arginine vasopressin (AVP) and that a second AVP-like peptide may exist. We have studied testis samples from the pig, which produces lysine vasopressin (LVP) in its pituitary, and have found both LVP- and AVP-like IR.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of testis extracts showed two peaks of VP-IR. The first peak co-eluted with authentic LVP and was recognized only by antisera which cross-reacted with LVP. The second peak co-eluted with authentic AVP and was recognized by antisera raised against AVP. Both VP-like peptides bound to a neurophysin affinity column and the HPLC elution profiles of the bound peptides were similar to those of the authentic hormones. When the LVP-like material was oxidized with performic acid, a peak of IR running in the same position as oxidized authentic LVP on HPLC was produced. Similarly, the performic acid-oxidized AVP-like material co-eluted with oxidized authentic AVP.

The presence of both LVP- and AVP-like peptides in the pig testis may mean that more than one gene is involved. A second VP-like gene could also explain the anomalies of VP-IR in other species.

J. Endocr. (1988) 117, 441–446

 

  • Collapse
  • Expand