Correlation of secretion of retinol and protein by the lacrimal gland
Retinol, which is present in tears, is secreted by the lacrimal gland. Retinol secretion is stimulated by cholinergic drugs and vasoactive intestinal peptide with characteristics very similar to the exocytotic secretion of protein by the lacrimal gland, suggesting that retinol and protein are secreted by similar mechanisms. The authors investigated this by cannulating the lacrimal gland ducts of rabbits and collecting lacrimal gland fluid (LGF) under conditions of maximal flow stimulated by IV injection of pilocarpine (400 ..mu..g/kg) every 20 min for 4.5 hr. Over this period LGF protein concentration decreased 36.4% from 22.8 +/- 1.94 mg/ml to 8.29 1.86 mg/ml while retinol decreased 37% from 55.1 +/- 16.2 ng/ml to 20.4 +/- 6.5 ng/ml. The retinol/protein ratio remained constant at 2.88 ng/mg. This demonstrates a strong correlation between retinol and protein secretion, suggesting that retinol may be protein bound. To investigate binding of retinol to LGF protein, LGF was incubated with /sup 3/H-retinol. The bound and unbound retinol were separated on a Lipidex 1000 column. Retinol binding was linear over a range of 1.25-200 nM /sup 3/H-retinol. Binding was not inhibited by PCMBS or addition of a 100-fold excess of unlabeled retinol and was not increased by prior extraction of endogenous retinol from the LGF. This indicates that the binding of retinol to LGF protein is non-specific. Retinol therefore appears to be secreted by the lacrimal gland cells in non-specific association with protein.
- Research Organization:
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- OSTI ID:
- 5417712
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8604222-; TRN: 86-030442
- Journal Information:
- Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Vol. 45:3; Conference: 70. annual meeting of the Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA, 13 Apr 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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PROTEINS
SECRETION
VITAMIN A
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CORRELATIONS
LACRIMAL DUCTS
QUANTITY RATIO
RABBITS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
BODY
BODY AREAS
EYES
FACE
HEAD
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
REACTION KINETICS
SENSE ORGANS
VERTEBRATES
VITAMINS
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques