Molecular cloning of BNP from heart and its immunohistochemical localization in the hypothalamus of monkey

Previous physiological studies have suggested central roles of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). However, little information is available about the localization of BNP in the brain. In this study, we determined cDNA sequence encoding the entire coding region of prepro-BNP of Japanese and cynomologus monkeys, and then examined the immunohistochemical localization of BNP in the monkey hypothalamus. Japanese and cynomologus monkey prepro-BNP consisted of 132 amino acid residues with biologically active C-terminal 32 amino acids. Comparisons of deduced amino acid sequences among different species revealed high homology between monkey and human (91% in prerpro-BNP and 97% in the mature region). Immunohistochemical examination showed that BNP immunoreactive dots were observed in the paraventricular, periventricular, and supraoptic nuclei of the monkey hypothalamus. The present result suggests the central role of BNP in the neuroendocrine system in the hypothalamus.