In situ hybridization analysis of stanniocalcin mRNA expressing cells in the mouse kidney

Stanniocalcin (STC) is a glycoprotein hormone first identified in bony fish in which it regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis. A mammalian homologue has recently been isolated and STC mRNA is expressed in many tissues including kidney. Mammalian STC appears to inhibit renal phosphate reabsorption in rats, and its immunoreactive cells were detected in specific segments of the renal tubules in humans and rats. We used in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled cRNA for STC to characterize the intrarenal distribution of STC mRNA in mice. The labelling was detected in most of the cells in nephron tubules and glomerular mesangial cells, suggesting that STC is synthesized in the nephron system and acts in an autocrine/paracrine fashion.