LOCALIZATION OF THE PROSTAGLANDIN F-2 ALPHA-RECEPTOR IN RAT-TISSUES

The localization of the prostaglandin F-2 alpha (FP) receptor was exam ined in rat tissues by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, Immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections was performed with a rabbit polyclonal antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide derived from the rat FP receptor sequence. In situ hybridization on cryosections wa s done with S-35-labelled rat FP receptor antisense and sense riboprob es. The most intense FP receptor-like immunoreactivity was observed in granulosa luteal cells, muscle and epithelial cells, e.g. cardiac, sk eletal and smooth muscle, and hepatocytes. Weaker immunoreactivity was found in connective tissue fibroblasts. In the eye, intense immunosta ining was associated with the corneal and conjunctival epithelium and moderate staining with the ciliary body: retina, iris and connective t issues. In situ hybridization generally confirmed the results. The rib oprobe hybridized weakly with the heart, skeletal muscle, uterus, live r, lung and corpus luteum. Thus, the prostaglandin FP receptor was fou nd to be widely distributed in rat tissues.