Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) expression and immunolocalization of POMC-related peptides in the ovary of Protopterus annectens, an African lungfish.

Antisera against adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha MSH) and beta-endorphin were used to localize pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in the ovary of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens by immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity was observed in the granulosa and the internal theca of the vitellogenic follicles. No immunoreactivity was observed in immature follicles. Using human POMC cDNA as the hybridization probe POMC-like mRNA was identified in situ in cells of the granulosa and internal theca of the vitellogenic follicles. No labeling was observed in primordial follicles. The demonstration in the same cells of POMC mRNA and POMC-related peptides immunoreactivity indicates a local production of the opiate hormones.