Expression of Peptidyl-Glycine α-amidating Mono-Oxygenase (PAM) Enzymes in Morphological Abnormalities Adjecent to Pulmonary Tumors

Abstract

This is an investigation of an endocrine cell type in the midgut of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. This cell type is found in the posterior region of the midgut and is especially common in the ampullae through which Malpighian tubules drain into the gut at the midgut-hindgut junction. Strong Locusta diuretic hormonelike immunoreactivity in these cells was colocalized with FMRFamide- and substance P-like immunorectivities. At the uitrastuctural level, immunoreactivities for Locusta diuretic hormone was found in spherical granules (mean diameter of 450 nm), the contents of which showed variable electron density. Fractionation of a methanolic extract of the ampullae by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of two peaks of Locusta diuretic hormone-like immunoreactive material, both of which stimulate cyclic AMP production by isolated Malpighian tubules. The more hydrophobic material is most likely Locusta diuretic hormone, which has the same retention time when chromatographed under identical conditions.