DISTRIBUTION AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PEPTIDE TYROSINE LEUCINE AMIDE (PYLA) IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN MAMMALIAN-TISSUES

Abstract

Using a polyclonal antiserum raised against the mid-region of the abundant amphibian skin peptide PYLa (peptide tyrosine leucine amide) we have shown that immunoreactive PYLa is present in a wide variety of rat tissues, being particularly abundant in the liver, spleen and gut. In each tissue the predominant molecular form corresponds to a moderately hydrophobic, basic peptide of about 10 amino acids. Using the same antiserum in immunohistochemistry we have demonstrated that immunoreactive PYLa was present in endocrine cells, but not neurons, in the ileal mucosa of rat and man. These findings are consistent with an hormonal or local tissue regulatory role for immunoreactive PYLa in the intest..