Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide is highly abundant in the nervous system of anoxia-tolerant turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans

The levels of the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP ) were measured in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs of t he anoxia-tolerant freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans by radioimm unoassay. The concentration of PACAP38 was strikingly high in the central n ervous system and lower but considerable immunoreactivity was detected in t he peripheral organs. Levels of PACAP38 in the turtle brain exceed those me asured in rat and human brain areas by 10-100-fold. Based on these exceptio nally high levels of PACAP and the known neuroprotective role of the peptid e, it can be suggested that PACAP38 plays a role in the extraordinary resis tance of the turtle brain from anoxia-induced neuronal damage. (C) 2001 Els evier Science Inc. All rights reserved.