Abstract
Immunoreactive oxytocin was determined in a peptidic extract of rat thymus by means of a highly specific radioimmunoassay combined with high pressure liquid chromatography fractionation. Rat thymus was found to contain 80±7.5 pg/g wet tissue (⋍0.56 pg/mg protein) of oxytocin-like immunoreactivity, which behaved like synthetic oxytocin in the radioimmunoassay and in two different high pressure liquid chromatography columns. Oxytocin concentration was increased by bilateral electrolytic lesion of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), and by high doses of corticosterone (10 mg/kg IM for 7 days) but was not modified by low doses of corticosterone (1 mg/kg IM for 7 days) or by hypophysectomy. The results suggest that rat thymus synthetizes oxytocin and that thymic oxytocin concentration is modulated by the hypothalamus.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
