Localization, identification, and action of galanin in the frog adrenal gland

Stephane Gasman, Hubert Vaudry, Franck Cartier, Gerard Tramu, Alain Fournier, J. Michael Conlon, Catherine Delarue

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23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The distribution of galanin-like immunoreactivity was studied in the adrenal gland of the frog Rana ridibunda using the indirect immunofluorescence technique. A dense network of varicose fibers immunoreactive to galanin was found in the adrenal tissue. A combination of HPLC analysis and RIA detection was used to characterize galanin-like immunoreactivity in frog adrenal gland extracts. The elution profile revealed the existence of a single form of galanin exhibiting the same retention time as synthetic frog galanin. The possible involvement of galanin in the regulation of corticosteroid secretion was investigated in vitro using a perifusion system for frog adrenal slices. For concentrations ranging from 10-9 to 3 x 10-6 M, synthetic frog galanin induced a dose-dependent inhibition of corticosterone and aldosterone release. Repeated pulses of galanin (10-6 M), given at 90-min intervals, resulted in a reproducible inhibition of corticosteroid secretion without any apparent tachyphylaxis. During prolonged administration of galanin (10-6 M), the steroidogenic effect of ACTH (10-9 M) was significantly reduced. In contrast, galanin did not attenuate the stimulation of corticosteroid secretion induced by the angiotensin II analog [Sar1,Val5]angiotensin II. These results show the occurrence of galanin in fibers innervating the frog adrenal gland. The data also demonstrate that synthetic galanin inhibits spontaneous and ACTH- induced corticosteroid release. Taken together, these findings suggest that galanin, released by nerve fibers in the adrenal tissue, can act locally as a modulator of steroid secretion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5311-5318
Number of pages8
JournalEndocrinology
Volume137
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology

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