Corpuscles of Stannius and stanniocalcin-like immunoreactivity in the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni): evidence for a new cell-type.

The distribution of stanniocalcin immunoreactivity was examined in the corpuscles of Stannius of the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) by using a chum salmon stanniocalcin antiserum, Western blotting, and light and electron microscopy. The white sucker possesses at least two stanniocalcin-immunoreactive corpuscles in the most posterior portions of the kidneys. Immunocytochemistry and ultrastructure revealed two cell-types in the corpuscle parenchyma, only one of which was immunoreactive. The nonimmunoreactive cells contained dense-cored vesicles and long processes that extended between the immunoreactive cells and terminated at perivascular spaces. When corpuscle extracts were subjected to electrophoresis and Western blotting, three nonreduced stanniocalcin-like immunoreactive bands (approximately 56, 61, and 64 kDa) were observed. However, in the presence of a reductant, a diffuse band migrating in the range of 28 to 32 kDa was noted. The results of this study on the white sucker demonstrate the presence of a dimeric stanniocalcin-like molecule and present evidence of a previously uncharacterized cell-type in the corpuscles of Stannius.