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Biomedical subjects

R Guillemin

Publications and source records attributed to R Guillemin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of caprine corticotropin-releasing factor.

The hypophysiotropic peptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was isolated from caprine hypothalamic median eminence tissue by means of acid extraction, immunoaffinity chromatography, gel filtration and two steps of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPLC). Amino acid sequence determination using a gas-phase sequencer established the primary structure of the first 39 residues from the NH2-terminus. The nature of the COOH-terminal dipeptide was elucidated by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion of the native peptide, dansylation of the digest and comparative RPLC studies with the dansylated dipeptides Ile-Ala-NH2, Ile-Ala-OH, Ala-Ile-NH2 and Ala-Ile-OH. The complete structure of the peptide was established as: H-Ser-Gln-Glu-Pro-Ile-Ser-Leu-Asp-Leu-Thr-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Arg-Glu- Val-Leu-Glu-Met-Thr-Lys-Ala-Asp-Gln-Leu-Ala-Gln-Gln-Ala-His-Ser-Asn- Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Asp-Ile-Ala-NH2, which is identical to that of ovine CRF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pituitary response to growth hormone-releasing factor in rats with functional or anatomical lesions of the central nervous system that inhibit endogenous growth hormone secretion.

The pituitary growth hormone (GH) response to the growth hormone-releasing factor, hpGRF-44, was evaluated in male rats with various lesions of the central nervous system. These included an electrical lesion of the ventromedial hypothalamus, a chemical lesion of the arcuate nucleus induced by neonatal treatment with monosodium glutamate, a functional lesion of catecholamine synthesis with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine or a functional lesion of catecholamine storage with reserpine. The first three lesions appear to partially inhibit normal somatostatin secretion since in every instance hpGRF-44 administration induced a significant increase in plasma GH concentrations. In contrast, reserpine blocked the GH response to hpGRF-44, presumably by stimulating somatostatin secretion. The pituitary GH response to hpGRF-44 in the above described models was enhanced by pretreatment of the rats with antibodies against somatostatin. The pituitary GH response to repeated injections of hpGRF-44 was also evaluated in rats with an anatomical lesion of the arcuate nucleus or a functional lesion of catecholamine synthesis. The maximum GH response did not vary over time to the repeated injections of hpGRF-44 in rats with lesions of the arcuate nucleus; however, interruption of catecholamine synthesis resulted in a significant decrease in the GH response to hpGRF-44 over time.

Animals↗

[Thyroid function in the nephrotic syndrome].

Serum Total Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Free Triiodothyronine (FT3) Reverse Triiodothyronine and T3 Resin Uptake (T3RU) as well as basal and post stimulating TSH were measured in twenty clinically euthyroid patients with the nephrotic syndrome. In comparison with control values, our patients showed (1) significantly lowered mean serum TBG levels (p less than 0,05) (2) unmodified mean serum T3, FT3 and rT3 values (3) significantly lowered mean serum T4 and FT4 levels (p less than 0,001 and p = 0,027 respectively) (4) significantly higher mean basal TSH, and increased TSH response to TRH. We found a significant correlation between proteinemia and T4 or FT4 (p less than 0,001; p less than 0,01 respectively). In summary, our study: Shows that the low Total T4 observed in the Nephrotic Syndrome is not only due to a decreased protein bound T4, but also to a decreased FT4; And brings evidence for mild hypothyroidism in nephrotic patients.

Adult↗

Isolation, primary structure, and synthesis of human hypothalamic somatocrinin: growth hormone-releasing factor.

The hypophysiotropic peptide, growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), was isolated from human hypothalamic-hypophysial tissues by means of acid extraction, immunoaffinity chromatography, gel filtration, and two steps of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid sequence determination using a gas-phase sequencer and reverse-phase liquid chromatography of the native peptide and its synthetic replicates showed its primary structure to be as follows: H-Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln -Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser -Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu-NH2, which is identical to that of the GRF recently isolated and characterized from a human pancreatic tumor that had caused acromegaly. Human hypothalamic GRF shows major homologies (93%, 89%, and 86%, respectively) when its primary structure is compared to that of the hypothalamic GRF from the porcine, bovine, caprine, and ovine species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pituitary growth hormone response in rats during a 24-hour infusion of growth hormone-releasing factor.

The pituitary GH response during a 24-h iv infusion of GH-releasing factor (hpGRF-44; 15 micrograms/h) and to a subsequent bolus injection of hpGRF-44 (2 micrograms) was studied in conscious, freely moving male rats pretreated with antiserum against somatostatin. Within 2 h of the initiation of the hpGRF-44 infusion, plasma GH concentrations rose from 169 +/- 16 to 2465 +/- 307 (+/- SE) ng/ml. By 6 h, plasma GH concentrations began to fall. They decreased slowly and reached a nadir of 490 +/- 107 ng/ml by 12 h. Rats infused for 24 h with hpGRF-44 failed to respond to a 2-micrograms bolus injection (iv) of hpGRF-44, whereas rats infused for 24 h with saline responded with a normal increase in plasma GH. The pituitary GH content of rats treated with saline was significantly greater than that of rats treated with hpGRF-44. These results demonstrate that the capacity of the pituitary to respond to GRF can be exhausted after the chronic administration of hpGRF-44 and that this lack of response appears to be due, in part, to a depletion of pituitary stores of GH.

Animals↗

Multiple stimulation of the adenohypophysis by combinations of hypothalamic releasing factors.

We have investigated the in vitro and in vivo interactions of the four hypothalamic releasing factors, LHRH, corticotropin-releasing factor, TRH, and GH-releasing factor on anterior pituitary hormone secretions, using a 2 X 2 X 2 X 2 factorial experimental design. This experimental design allows for the evaluation of both the main treatment effects of the hypothalamic releasing factors as well as all of the possible interactions between them. Significant main treatment effects were: LHRH on LH and FSH, corticotropin-releasing factor on ACTH and beta-endorphin, TRH on TSH, and GH-releasing factor on GH. These results confirm the specificity of the four releasing factors on their respective target cells. There were no significant interactions between any of the releasing factors on anterior pituitary hormone secretions. These results suggest that the changes in pituitary secretion that are observed under physiological conditions are not due to interactions between the hypothalamic releasing factors at the level of the pituitary, but rather to other secondary interactions that modify pituitary activation or response. These results also indicate that the clinical pituitary reserve tests can be expanded to include all four hypothalamic releasing factors, since any lack of response will reflect a specific pituitary defect and not a failure to respond owing to interaction of the secretagogues administered.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

[Roles of cyclic AMP and calcium in the mechanism of the release of growth hormone by somatocrinin].

Growth hormone (GH) release from Rat pituitary cell monolayers in response to synthetic somatocrinin (7.8 to 1,000 pmol/l) is paralleled with an increase in cellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) content and efflux of cAMP in the extracellular medium. Somatostatin and blockers of calcium-dependent cellular mechanisms inhibit somatocrinin-induced GH release but only partially decrease (somatostatin, CoCl2) or even increase (trifluoperazine) cAMP levels. Thus, calcium is required for somatocrinin action and GH release is not simply dependent on stimulation of cAMP metabolism.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of the bovine hypothalamic growth hormone releasing factor.

A 44 amino acid peptide with high intrinsic growth hormone releasing activity was isolated from 500 bovine hypothalami by means of acid extraction, immunoaffinity chromatography, gel filtration, and two steps of reverse phase HPLC. The growth hormone releasing factor was structurally characterized by gas phase sequence analysis. Reverse phase liquid chromatography of the native peptide and synthetic replicates showed that the molecule possesses an amide rather than a free acid at its carboxyl terminus. The structure of the peptide was established as: Tyr Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala -Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Asn-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Arg-Asn-Gln -Gly-Ala-Lys-Val-Arg-Leu-NH2 using approximately 2 nmol of material.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of the porcine hypothalamic growth hormone releasing factor.

A 44 amino acid peptide with high intrinsic growth hormone releasing activity was isolated from 2500 porcine hypothalami by means of acid extraction, immunoaffinity chromatography, gel filtration, and 2 steps of reverse phase HPLC. The growth hormone releasing factor was structurally characterized by gas phase sequence analyses of the intact peptide and its carboxyl terminal cyanogen bromide digestion fragment. Reverse phase liquid chromatography of the native peptide and synthetic replicates showed that the molecule possesses an amide rather than a free acid at its carboxyl terminus. The structure of the peptide was established as: Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Arg-Asn-Gln-Glu-Gln-Gly-Ala-Arg-Val-Arg-Leu-NH2 using approximately 6 nmol of material.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human hypothalamic growth hormone releasing factor (GRF): evidence for two forms identical to tumor derived GRF-44-NH2 and GRF-40.

Human hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) was purified by gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC. Bioassay and two radioimmunoassays of different specificity revealed the presence of two major forms of GRF-activity which coelute with human pancreas GRFs, hpGRF-44-NH2 and hpGRF-40 previously characterized in pancreas tumors. The bioactive material coeluting with hpGRF-44-NH2 is recognized by two antibodies which are directed against the amidated COOH-terminal sequence and the central portion of the GRF-44 peptide. The bioactive GRF which coelutes with hpGRF-40 reacts only with the antibody directed against the central portion of hpGRF. These data strongly suggest that the human hypothalamus contains the same major forms of GRF that were identified in pancreas tumors responsible for acromegaly in the absence of a pituitary tumor.

Biological Assay↗

Primary structure of PDC-109, a major protein constituent of bovine seminal plasma.

The two major protein components of bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109 and BSP I, have been purified by gel filtration, partition chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography from an 86% ethanol precipitate of bovine seminal plasma ejaculate. The complete 109-residue amino acid sequence of PDC-109 has been established by automated Edman degradation of the intact peptide as well as its proteolytic digestion and cyanogen bromide cleavage fragments. The 12,774 dalton structure has two structurally similar domains of 38 and 41 amino acids, each containing two disulfide bonds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunohistochemical evidence that brain enkephalins arise from a precursor similar to adrenal preproenkephalin.

We have examined rat brains by immunohistochemistry with an antiserum raised against BAM22P, a synthetic fragment of the adrenomedullary precursor of Leu- and Met-enkephalin, in order to determine whether preproenkephalin derived peptides are detectable in the central nervous system. BAM22P antiserum stained fibers, nerve endings and cell bodies in many areas of the brain, especially the striatum, the septum and the hypothalamus. Comparative topographical studies showed that neurons recognized by anti-BAM22P overlapped structures found immunoreactive for enkephalins in the present study. In addition, BAM22P antiserum stained cell bodies in cerebral cortex and in caudate putamen. The presence of BAM22P immunoreactivity in presumptive enkephalin neurons suggests that some brain enkephalins arise from a precursor identical or closely related to the preproenkephalin A found in the bovine adrenal medulla. This does not preclude the possibility of enkephalins also arising from other precursor molecules.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Primary structures of three human pancreas peptides with growth hormone-releasing activity.

The primary structures of three polypeptides, possessing high intrinsic growth hormone-releasing activity and derived from a human pancreatic carcinoma which had caused acromegaly, were established by sequence analyses of the intact peptides and their cyanogen bromide digestion fragments with a gas-phase sequenator. The three human pancreas growth hormone-releasing factors contain 44 (hpGRF-44), 40 (hpGRF-40), and 37 (hpGRF-37) amino acids in identical sequences from their NH2 termini. High pressure liquid chromatography of the native peptides and their synthetic replicates showed that hpGRF-37 and hpGRF-40 possess free carboxyl termini while that of hpGRF-44 is amidated. The structure of hpGRF-44 was established as: Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu-NH2.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Inhibitory effects of cysteamine on neuroendocrine function.

The action of cysteamine on anterior pituitary hormone secretion was studied in vivo using conscious, freely moving male rats and in vitro using anterior pituitary cells in monolayer culture. Administration of 500 micrograms cysteamine into the lateral cerebral ventricles of normal rats caused the complete inhibition of pulsatile GH secretion for a minimum of 6 h. This treatment also significantly decreased plasma concentrations of LH for at least 6 h in orchiectomized rat, TSH in short-term (0.5 month) thyroidectomized rats, and PRL in long-term (6 months) thyroidectomized rats. The in vivo stimulation of GH, LH, TSH and PRL with their respective releasing hormones 60 min after administration of cysteamine was not different from the response observed in rats pretreated with saline except for PRL where cysteamine pretreatment significantly inhibited the expected PRL increase. In vitro, 1 mM cysteamine decreased basal and TRH stimulated PRL release while not affecting basal or stimulated GH, LH, TSH and ACTH secretion. These data demonstrate the dramatic and wide-ranging effects of cysteamine on anterior pituitary hormone secretion. This action appears to be mediated through hypothalamic pathways for GH, LH and TSH and through a pituitary pathway for PRL.

Animals↗

Human growth hormone releasing factor and somatostatin from two pancreatic tumors: isolation and characterization.

Peptides with high intrinsic activity to release growth hormone from pituitary cells in tissue cultures were isolated from two different human pancreatic tumors that had caused acromegaly. Homogeneous peptides were obtained after gel filtration and two steps of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. From one tumor a 44-residue peptide (human pancreas growth hormone releasing factor, hpGRF-44) was isolated, together with two shorter fragments of reduced bioactivity having 40 and 37 amino acid residues (hpGRF-40, hpGRF-37). In contrast, the other tumor contained only one form of GRF which proved to be identical to hpGRF-40. These hpGRFs are indistinguishable from partially purified preparations of hypothalamic growth hormone releasing factor of human, porcine and murine origins with respect to biological activity and are very similar in their physicochemical properties (molecular weight, retention behavior on reverse-phase HPLC, absence of sulfhydryl groups). One of the pancreatic tumors also contained two forms of immunoreactive somatostatin. One form, after isolation and partial microsequencing, was identified as somatostatin-14 with a structure identical to that of the peptide found in other species. The second form has tentatively been identified as somatostatin-28 on the basis of chromatographic behavior.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Immunocytochemical localization of prosomatostatin fragments in maturing and mature secretory granules of pancreatic and gastrointestinal D cells.

Pancreatic and gastrointestinal D cells were examined by immunocytochemistry using antisera against somatostatin-28 (SS28) and its NH2-terminal fragment SS28-(1-12), followed by the staphylococcal protein A-gold (pAg) complex. In pancreatic and gastric D cells incubated with antiserum against SS28-(1-12) the gold particles produced intense staining of the mature secretory granules but weaker staining of the immature granules associated with the Golgi area, whereas after SS28 antiserum treatment the particles accumulated selectively over the population of immature secretory granules. In intestinal D cells not only SS28-(1-12) but also SS28 antiserum produced an intense gold staining over the mature delta granules. These observations show that the relative amounts of immunoreactive sites related to SS28 and its cleavage product SS28-(1-12) in maturing and mature secretory granules are different in pancreatic, gastric, and intestinal D cells.

Humans↗