IMMUNOREACTIVE NEUROPHYSINS AND VASOTOCIN IN HUMAN FOETAL PINEAL GLANDS

Abstract

University of Liège, Department of Internal Medicine, Radioimmunoassay Laboratory, Boulevard Piercot 23, B-4000 Liège, Belgium (Received 20 October 1975) The human foetal pineal contains (Pavel, Dumitru, Klepsh & Dorcescu, 1973 b) and synthesizes (Pavel, Dorcescu, Petrescu-Holban & Ghinea, 1973 a) arginine-vasotocin (AVT) which could be the physiological antigonadotrophic factor (Pavel et al. 1973 b). Neurophysins, the carriers of vasopressin (ADH) and oxytocin along the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial tract have been isolated from bovine pineal glands (Reinharz, Czernichow & Vallotton, 1974) and identified in one human pineal tumour (Legros, Louis, Grotschel-Stewart & Franchimont, 1975). In the latter study we showed that AVT was present in 'free form' unbound to neurophysins. Here we confirm the presence of immunoreactive neurophysins and AVT in the normal foetal pineal. Five glands were removed as rapidly as possible after therapeutic abortion, immediately put in cold acetone and later homogenized in 1ml NaCl (0·9%) by ultrasonication. After centrifugation (4,200g,