Immunohistochemical localization of D-aspartate in the rat pineal gland

Jen Ai Lee, Hiroshi Homma, Kumiko Sakai, Takeshi Fukushima, Tomofumi Santa, Ken Tashiro, Takeshi Iwatsubo, Masayoshi Yoshikawa, Kazuhiro Imai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Specific polyclonal antibody was raised against D-aspartate (D-Asp) which had been conjugated to glutaraldehyde and was purified by affinity chromatography. Immunohistochemical staining of rat pineal gland with the antibody demonstrated the presence of D-Asp in the cytoplasm of pinealocytes, the predominant cell type in this gland. D-Asp immunoreactivity was more evident in the distal region than in the proximal region of the gland. Pinealocytes in the distal region are presumably involved in the synthesis and secretion of the pineal hormone, melatonin, and the results of staining may indicate some yet unknown role of D-Asp in the regulation of melatonin secretion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)505-508
Number of pages4
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume231
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 13 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology

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