Tissue Specificity |
MCH is present in all regions of the brain and in neurointermediate lobe of the pituarity gland, with highest concentrations in the hypothalamus. Also expressed to a much lesser extent in stomach, lamina propria of both duodenum and colon, ovary, thymus, pancreas, adrenal gland and testis (spermatogonia, early spermatocytes and Sertoli cells). Weak expression in heart and lung. The other peptides are expressed at least in Sertoli cells, nei being also expressed in brain, stomach and proximal duodenum. In brain exclusively mature mch and nei peptides are present. In peripheral tissues a large product, encompassing the NEI and MCH domains of the precursor, is found predominantly. At low levels fully processed MCH and NEI peptides are present in gut. No expression in peripheral blood. |