Parathyroid hormone-related protein production in the lamprey Geotria australis: developmental and evolutionary perspectives

Abstract

This study explored the distribution of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and its mRNA in tissues of the lamprey Geotria australis, a representative of one of the two surviving groups of an early and jawless stage in vertebrate evolution. For this purpose, antibodies to N-terminal and mid-molecule human PTHrP were used to determine the locations of the antigen. Sites of mRNA production were demonstrated by in situ hybridisation with a digoxigenin-labelled riboprobe to exon VI of the human PTHrP gene. The results revealed that antigen and its mRNA were widely distributed among similar sites of tissue localisation to those described for mammalian and avian species. However, some nove..