Synthesis of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) by rat arterial endothelial cells
-
Doi, Y. [1] ; Kudo, H. [1] ; Nishino, T. [1] ; Kayashima, K. [1] ; Kiyonaga, H. [1] ; Nagata, T. [1] ; Nara, S. [1] ; Morita, M. [1] ; Fujimoto, S. [1]
-
[1] University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan
University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan
Kokurakita Ku, Japón
-
- Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 16, Nº. 4, 2001, págs. 1073-1079
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
-
Resumen
We investigated the protein and mRNA expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in endothelial cells of the rat thoracic aorta and femoral artery. Light microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed that immunoreactivity for CG RP was preferentially located in the endothelium of both vessels. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that CGRP-immunoreactive gold particles were preferentially localized on cisterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum a nd on the Weibel-Palade (WP) bodies in the endothelial cells. Prepro CGRP mRNA signals were also detected on the endothelium. Our results are the firs t to demonstrate that endothelial cells of both elastic and large muscular arteries synthesize CGRP and store it, in part, in WP bodies, implying that CGRP may act as an endothelium-derived relaxing factor in these vessels.
