Related Experiment Videos
Presence of endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity in human cerebrospinal fluid
Y Hirata1, T Matsunaga, K Ando
1Department of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Insights
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) was detected in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using radioimmunoassay. This neuropeptide, ET-1, is present in CSF, suggesting secretion from human neural tissues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide.
- The presence and role of ET-1 in the central nervous system are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence of ET-1-like immunoreactivity (LI) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- To characterize the nature of ET-1-LI in CSF.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA) specific for ET-1 was employed.
- Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for component analysis.
- CSF samples from patients with cerebrovascular disease were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher levels of ET-1-LI were found in human CSF compared to normal human plasma.
- A single major ET-1-LI component was identified in CSF extracts, coeluting with standard ET-1.
- The concentration of ET-1-LI in CSF was measured at 28 +/- 1.3 pg/ml (n=9).
Conclusions:
- ET-1 is present in human cerebrospinal fluid.
- These findings suggest that ET-1 functions as a neuropeptide secreted by neural tissues in humans.
Abstract:
By use of radioimmunoassay (RIA) specific for endothelin-1 (ET-1), we have studied whether ET-1-like immunoreactivity (LI) exists in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Human CSF from patients with old cerebrovascular disease contained far greater amounts of ET-1-LI (28 +/- 1.3 pg/ml, n = 9) than normal human plasma. Reverse-phase HPLC coupled with ET-1 RIA revealed a single major ET-1-LI component in human CSF extract coeluting with standard ET-1. These data suggest ET-1 is a neuropeptide secreted from neural tissues in humans.