Laminin isoforms and laminin-producing cells in rat anterior pituitary.

ABSTRACT: Laminin is a key component of the basement membrane and is involved in the structural scaffold and in cell proliferation and differentiation. Research has identified 19 laminin isoforms, which are assemblies of α, β, and γ chains (eg, the α1, β1, and γ1 chains form the laminin 111 isoform). Although laminin is known to be present in the anterior pituitary, the specific laminin isoforms have not been identified. This study used molecular biological and histochemical techniques-namely, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization-to identify the laminin isoforms and laminin-producing cells in rat anterior pituitary. RT-PCR showed that laminin α1, α3, and α4 genes were expressed in anterior pituitary. Immunohistochemistry revealed laminin α1 in gonadotrophs and laminin α4 in almost

SUBMITTER: Ramadhani D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3499700 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature