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Prodynorphine opioid peptides and aspartate aminotransferase studied in spinal cord and sensory neurons

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:7170882

An objective of this research was to obtain evidence for the synthesis and release of newly discovered opioid peptides, such as dynorphin, in spinal cord and sensory neurons. Several specific antisera were used to visualize dynorphin and related peptides in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion neurons in dissociated cell culture. Antisera specific for the midportion of the dynorphin molecule revealed a subpopulation of spinal cord neurons with dense immunoreactive dynorphin in cell perikarya, but none in their associated neurites. Antisera specific for either the amino or carboxy terminal sequences of the molecule produced intense immunoreactivity in both cell perikarya and neurites of spinal neurons. These data suggest the cleavage products of dynorphin and not the complete molecule are possible neurotransmitters in the spinal cord. Additional evidence in support of this hypothesis was derived from radioimmunoassays of these cells and their culture medium following depolarization induced by elevated extracellular potassium. Antisera against aspartate aminotransferase revealed no differentially elevated immunoreactive aspartate aminotransferase in tissue sections of spinal cord or dorsal root ganglia.

Research Organization:
Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
7170882
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
AMINO ACIDS
AMINOTRANSFERASES
ANIMAL CELLS
ASPARTIC ACID
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CULTURES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GANGLIONS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
IMMUNE SERUMS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
METALS
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROREGULATORS
NITROGEN TRANSFERASES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
POTASSIUM
PROTEINS
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
SOMATIC CELLS
SPINAL CORD
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSFERASES