Neurophysins, vasopressin and oxytocin in the bovine pineal gland.

Vasopressin, oxytocin, neurophysin I and neurophysin II have been detected and quantitatively determined in the bovine pineal gland. The neurohormones and the neurophysins are present in all parts of the gland. The oxytocin concentration, however, is higher in the anterior part than in the posterior one. The ratio of oxytocin to vasopressin appears to be similar to that of neurophysin I to neurophysin II. This similarity suggests that the neurophysins present in the pineal are the carrier proteins of the neurohormones vasopressin and oxytocin, rather than or arginine vasotocin.