Localization and molecular forms of galanin in human adrenals: Elevated levels in pheochromocytomas

F. E. Bauer, G. W. Hacker, G. Terenghi, T. E. Adrian, J. M. Polak, S. R. Bloom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Galanin immunoreactivity was measured by RIA, using antibodies directed against both the non-C- and C-terminal positions of porcine galanin, in tissue extracts of normal adrenals and pheochromocytomas and also in the plasma of normal subjects and patients with pheochromocytomas. No C-terminal galanin-like immunoreactivity was detected in plasma or tissue, suggesting differences in the amino acid sequence of human compared with porcine galanin. A non-C-terminally directed antibody was, therefore, used to characterize human galanin immunoreactivity by gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography and to localize it by immunocytochemistry. The galanin content of whole adrenal gland was 2.6 ± 0.9 (±SEM) pmol/g (n = 5). In contrast, however, pheochromocytomas had much greater concentrations (21 ± 2.3 pmol/g; n = 16).Gel chromatography and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography revealed 2 molecular forms of galanin immunoreactivity with identical elution positions in both normal adrenals and tumors. The concentration of galanin in plasma from both normal subjects and pheochromocytoma patients was below the detection limit of the assay (<10 pmol/liter). Using immunocytochemistry, galanin was localized to scattered cells or clusters of tumor cells in 5 of 11 pheochromocytomas and only a few chromaffin cells and cortical nerve fibers in normal adrenals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1372-1378
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume63
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1986
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry, medical

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