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₁-Melanotropin-Like Immunoreactivity in Bovine and Human Adrenocorticotropin-Producing Tissues^*

Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Issei Tanaka, Second Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan.

₁MSH-like immunoreactivity in bovine pituitary glands, hypothalami, human pituitary glands, ectopic ACTH-producing tumors, and human gastric antral mucosa was investigated using a newly developed RIA for ₁MSH. The minimum detectable quantity of ₁MSH was 3 pg/tube, and the antibody did not cross-react with ₂MSH, ₃MSH, MSH, βMSH, ACTH, β-lipotropin, or β-endorphin. Bovine anterior pituitary, intermediate-posterior pituitary, and hypothalamus contained more than two molecular weight forms of ₁MSH-like immunoreactivities. On the other hand, ₁MSH-like immunoreactivity was not detected in human pituitary glands or human gastric antral mucosa, but was detected in one of seven ectopic ACTH-producing tumors. These results suggest a limited processing of the ACTH-β-lipotropin precursor to ₁MSH in human tissues, although a rapid degradation of ₁MSH could not be ruled out completely. (J Clin Endocrinol Meted) 56: 1080, 1983)

^* This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Received August 2, 1982.