Identification of multiple tachykinins in bovine adrenal medulla using an improved chromatographic procedure.

Comparison of data based on the reverse-phase HPLC with two ion-pairing reagents, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA), together with the use of two antibodies, has allowed us to identify the various tachykinins in the bovine adrenal medulla. The results show that substance P-like, neurokinin B-like, and neurokinin A-like (including its extended forms, neuropeptide K and neuropeptide gamma) immunoreactivity are present in the bovine adrenal medulla. The concentration of SP-like immunoreactivity in the adrenal medulla was found to be substantially higher than that of NKA-like and NKB-like immunoreactivity. The strategy described here, using radioimmunoassay combined with HPLC employing TFA and HFBA as the ion-pairing reagents, should be useful for the identification of tachykinins and other peptides in the central and peripheral nervous system.