Characterization of the synthesis and storage of tgf-[alpha] in rat
parotid acinar and intercalated duct cells.
Login, Gary R., James Yang, Karen P. Bryan, Eleni C. Digenis, Jim
McBride, Aram Elovic, David O. Quissell[lambda], Ann M. Dvorak, and
David T. W. Wong.
Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology at the Harvard
School of Dental Medicine, Departments of Pathology Harvard Medical
School, and the Beth Israel Hospital and the Charles A. Dana Research
Institute, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215. Department of
Basic Sciences and Oral Research, School of Dentistry at the
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (DOQ), Denver,
Colorado[lambda] 80262
APStracts 3:0182G, 1996.
Although the expression and biological role of TGF-[alpha] in a
variety of normal cells in mammalian species has been explored,
little is known about the storage of TGF-[alpha] in secretory cells
of exocrine organs. Parotid glands from four rats were homogenized
for RT-PCR. RNA isolation followed by RT-PCR was used to determine
the presence of TGF-[alpha] message in the gland tissue. In situ
hybridization using a hamster specific TGF-[alpha] riboprobe was done
on paraffin sections. Parotid gland and isolated acinar cells were
processed for transmission electron microscopy and postembedding
immunogold labelled for TGF-[alpha]. Gold particles were counted on
200 granules in 10 acinar cells and in 10 intercalated duct cells.
Labelling density was calculated as the number of gold
particles/[mu]m2 +/- sd. Statistical significance was calculated
using one way analysis of variance. Using multiple technologies we
have established that rat parotid acinar and intercalated duct cells
synthesize TGF-[alpha] and store the precursor form of this cytokine
in their secretory granules.
Received 5 December 1995; accepted in final form 13 September
1996.
APS Manuscript Number G513-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 7 October 1996