Electroimmunoblotting of neuropeptide Y: application to the rat vas deferens.

ABSTRACT

In this study we have optimized the electroimmunoblotting conditions for neuropeptide Y (NPY). NPY standards and samples extracted from the rat vas deferens were separated on urea-sodium dodecyl sulphate gels. Densitometric scanning of the Coomassie Blue-stained gels allow a semi-quantitative analysis of NPY in the range of approximately 10(-11) to 10(-8) mol of NPY. Electroimmunoblotting of NPY was also shown to be best achieved overnight at 4 degrees C and with NC membranes of 0.22 micron. Under these conditions NPY extracted from the vas deferens has been efficiently electroimmunoblotted. Higher molecular weight NPY-reactive peptides were also detected that may be related to proteolytic processing of the NPY precursor.