ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Nerve growth factor
;
Submandibular gland
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary For unexplained reasons, nerve growth factor (NGF) exists in very high concentrations in the submandibular gland of the mouse. The NGF in the gland, called 7S-NGF, is a non-covalent complex of three protein subunits, named α-, γ- and β-NGF. All the known biological activity resides in the β-NGF subunit, and previous studies have shown that β-NGF is present in much greater concentrations in the male submandibular gland than in the female gland. The higher concentration in the male is due to the fact that β-NGF is synthesized in the granular tubule cells of the submandibular gland. These cells are much more numerous in the male gland. In contrast to β-NGF, neither the concentrations of α and γ subunits nor their cellular localization in the mouse submandibular gland have been established. In this study, radioimmunoassays specific for α. and γ subunits determined that both are present in much higher concentrations in the male gland. Immunocytochemical work localized both subunits in the granular tubule cell in the male and female submandibular gland. This indicates that all the components of 7S-NGF exist in a single cell type in the gland and suggests that 7S-NGF can be formed within this cell and secreted as a complex into the saliva.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00219881
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