Distribution and characterization of endogenous benzodiazepine receptor ligand (endozepine)-like peptides in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

Endozepine is the generic name for a family of peptides that are capable of displacing benzodiazepines and the 3-carboxylate ester of beta-carboline from their specific binding sites on synaptosomal membranes. The 104-amino acid polypeptide diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) and the octadecaneuropeptide (ODN) generated by tryptic digestion of DBI are two members of the endozepine family. In the present study we have used RIA, HPLC, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical techniques to identify and localize endozepine-like molecules in the rat gastrointestinal tract. Significant amounts of endozepine-like immunoreactivity (LI) were detected throughout the gut; the highest concentrations were found in the duodenum and antrum. HPLC analysis revealed that the immunoreactive material eluted as a major peak with a higher retention time than that of synthetic ODN. The distribution of the immunoreactive peptide(s) was studied using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique at the light microscope level. Endozepine-LI was localized only in the epithelial cell layer of the intestine in both goblet cells and enterocytes. In the stomach, endozepine-LI appeared to be restricted to deep layer of the epithelial cells. The diffuse neuroendocrine cells (amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system) as well as myenteric and neuronal cells were devoid of immunoreactivity. A good correlation was observed between RIA and immunocytochemical data, in that the esophagus, which contained very low concentrations of endozepine-LI, also exhibited weak immunostaining of secretory cells. In situ hybridization using a 35S-labeled cRNA probe showed that endozepine mRNA was located in the mucosa. Taken together, these results show that in the rat, epithelial cells synthesize endozepine-LI material. Since epithelial cells also contain a high density of peripheral-type benzodiazepine-binding sites, our data indicate that endozepines may play a role in water, electrolyte, and/or mucus regulation in the rat gastrointestinal tract. The occurrence of high levels of endozepine-LI in the rat stomach also suggests that endozepines can be involved in the regulation of gastric acid secretion through modulation of local gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic neurotransmission.