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Study of pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA expression in human postmortem pituitaries
G Mengod1, M M Vivanco, A Christnacher
1Preclinical Research, Sandoz Pharma Ltd., Basle Switzerland.
Abstract:
Complementary oligonucleotide probes specific for the human pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA were used to analyze the expression of POMC gene in 56 human postmortem pituitaries by in situ hybridization histochemistry. POMC transcripts were visualized by autoradiography in anterior lobe of the pituitary where their distribution was in a 'patchy-like' pattern. No hybridization could be observed in the posterior lobe of the pituitary. We examined pituitaries from several controls and from patients dying with schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease. Alzheimer's disease, Wernicke's encephalopathy and depressive illness. Computer-assisted microdensitometric semiquantification of POMC mRNA using a complementary oligonucleotide as hybridization standard, revealed no statistically significant effect of postmortem delay (between 2.5 and 66 h), of gender, age (between 22 and 103) or cause of death in 56 human pituitary glands. A large variation in POMC levels was already observed among all 30 control cases. The levels of POMC mRNA observed in pituitaries from different pathologies did not show a significant variation when compared with control cases.
Insights
This study analyzed pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression in human pituitary glands. POMC mRNA levels in the anterior pituitary did not significantly vary with age, gender, postmortem delay, or cause of death, including neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a key precursor protein in the pituitary gland, involved in hormone regulation.
- Understanding POMC gene expression is crucial for comprehending pituitary function and its role in various physiological and pathological states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns and levels of POMC mRNA in human postmortem pituitary glands.
- To determine if factors such as age, gender, postmortem delay, or specific diseases affect POMC gene expression.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization histochemistry using complementary oligonucleotide probes to visualize POMC mRNA.
- Autoradiography to detect POMC transcript distribution in the anterior and posterior pituitary lobes.
- Computer-assisted microdensitometry for semi-quantification of POMC mRNA levels, using a complementary oligonucleotide as a hybridization standard.
Main Results:
- POMC transcripts were detected in a patchy distribution within the anterior pituitary lobe, with no hybridization observed in the posterior lobe.
- No statistically significant effects of postmortem delay (2.5–66 hours), gender, age (22–103 years), or cause of death were found on POMC mRNA levels.
- Significant variation in POMC mRNA levels was observed among control cases, but pituitaries from patients with schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Wernicke's encephalopathy, and depressive illness showed no significant difference compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Human pituitary POMC gene expression is primarily localized to the anterior lobe and exhibits considerable natural variation.
- The expression of POMC mRNA in the pituitary is robust and not significantly influenced by common demographic factors or major neurological and psychiatric diseases examined in this study.