Somatostatin is targeted to the regulated secretory pathway of gonadotrophs in transgenic mice expressing a metallothionein-somatostatin gene

M. J. Low, P. J. Stork, Robert E Hammer, R. L. Brinster, M. J. Warhol, G. Mandel, R. H. Goodman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pituitaries of transgenic mice that express a metallothionein-somatostatin fusion gene contain high concentrations of somatostatin-14 exclusively in the gonadotrophic cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether somatostatin expressed from the foreign fusion gene enters the normal secretory pathway within these cells. Immuno-gold labeling of serial thin sections localized somatostatin to the secretory granules of gonadotropin-producing cells. The gonadotroph-specific hypophysiotropic factor, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone caused a dose-dependent secretion of somatostatin when applied to primary pituitary cultures from these mice. Growth hormone-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, corticotropin releasing factor, and dopamine did not affect somatostatin secretion. These experiments demonstrate that a neurosecretory peptide encoded by a foreign gene can enter the regulated secretory pathway of pituitary cells from transgenic mice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16260-16263
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume261
Issue number34
StatePublished - 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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