Immunocytochemistry of a vasopressin (AVP) receptor with anti-idiotype antibody: inhibition of staining with a peptide (PVA) encoded by an RNA that is complementary to AVP mRNA.

ABSTRACT

Immunocytochemical staining of putative presynaptic (auto-) receptors associated with vasopressin (AVP) neurons by anti-idiotype antibody can be markedly reduced or abolished by preincubation of the antibody with peptide PVA. This peptide, Ser-Ser-Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Glu-Val-Ala, represents amino acids encoded by a nucleotide sequence complementary to the mRNA code of AVP. These results suggest that PVA may have some binding characteristics similar to the AVP autoreceptor.