Ma. Masini et al., Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and POMC-derived peptides immunolocalization in the skin of Protopterus annectens, an African lungfish, PEPTIDES, 20(1), 1999, pp. 87-91
Antisera against adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), alpha-melanocyte stimu
lating hormone (alpha-MSH) and beta-endorphin were used to localize, by imm
unohistochemistry, proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in the skin
excised from different regions of the African lungfish Protopterus annecten
s. Immunoreactivity was observed in the epidermis mainly in the germinal la
yer. Using human POMC cDNA as hybridization probe, POMC-like mRNA was ident
ified in situ in epidermal cells. The demonstration in the same cells of PO
MC mRNA and POMC-related peptides immunoreactivity indicates a local produc
tion of opiate hormones. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc.