1,721,008 research outputs found
IgM and IgG in the human male genital tract. , 1997 Taylor & Francis, Bristol, PA, USA.
No full textAbstract: In human seminal plasma it is possible to measure the levels of IgG and IgA, while IgM has been detected in trace amounts in only a few subjects. The source of these antibodies is unknown, although, under certain conditions, they seem to be produced in the sex tissues. Male human genital tract was processed for the immunohistochemical demonstration of IgG and IgM to verify the presence and the source of these antibodies. Only the epithelia of the prostate gland and urethra showed positivity to the immunohistochemical reaction, indicating the presence of IgM-secreting epithelial cells. Clusters of IgM- and IgG-positive immunocompetent cells were also observed in the subepithelial layers of all organs studied. The findings suggest that IgM are present in mucosal surfaces as a result of active secretion, as well as secretory IgA, whereas most of the IgG present in the human seminal plasma are probably derived by transudation process
The human eye expresses high levels of CB1 cannabinoid receptor mRNA and protein
No full textWe used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to detect the expression of the central and peripheral cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2, respectively) mRNA, and Western blotting to show the presence of the CB1 protein in subregions of the human eye. CB2 mRNA transcripts were undetectable, while levels of CB1 mRNA were significantly expressed in the human retina (25.8 ± 2.46%), ciliary body (210 ± 11.55%) and iris (62.7 ± 5.94%) when compared with those of the normalizing reference gene β2 microglobulin. The CB1 gene encodes a functional protein which is detected in its glycosylated (63 kDa) and unglycosylated (54 kDa) form in the same areas by a specific purified antibody raised against the amino terminus (residues 1-77) of the CB1 receptor. These results further support the proposed role of the CB1 receptor in controlling intraocular pressure, helping to explain the antiglaucoma properties of marijuana
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