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Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of arginine vasotocin in the rat pineal gland

Nature volume 261, page 66 (1976) Cite this article

Abstract

THE discovery that the pineal gland contained melatonin1 provided the stimulus for a multidisciplinary approach to the study of this organ. Considerable evidence suggests that this gland affects reproductive physiology. For example, it contains biologically active polypeptides. One of the first of these to be identified was arginine vasotocin (AVT), initially isolated from extracts of bovine pineal gland2, and later identified chemically and found to have antigonadotropic properties3,4. There is physiological and radioimmunoassay evidence for the origin of AVT in the pineal gland. We now present immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of this polypeptide in the pineal gland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, 78284

    E. P. BOWIE & D. C. HERBERT

Authors
  1. E. P. BOWIE
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  2. D. C. HERBERT
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BOWIE, E., HERBERT, D. Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of arginine vasotocin in the rat pineal gland. Nature 261, 66 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261066a0

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