P. Onali et Mc. Olianas, PACAP IS A POTENT AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STIMULATOR OF ADENYLYL-CYCLASEACTIVITY IN THE RETINAS OF DIFFERENT MAMMALIAN-SPECIES, Brain research, 641(1), 1994, pp. 132-134
In rat, calf, pig and rabbit retinas the two forms of pituitary adenyl
ate cyclase activating polypeptide with 38- and 27-amino acids (PACAP-
38 and PACAP-27) produce a robust stimulation of adenylyl cyclase acti
vity. PACAP-38 acts at picomolar concentrations and is generally more
potent than PACAP-27. Both PACAPs are systematically more effective th
an the structurally homologous vasoactive intestinal peptide. Moreover
, rat, calf and pig retinas contain significant amounts of PACAP-38 im
munoreactivity. This study provides the first evidence for the action
and occurrence of PACAP in mammalian retinas.