Immunocytochemical localization of annexin 5, a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, in rat endocrine organs.

Annexin 5, a unique calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein, has been investigated for its specific distribution in rat endocrine organs by immunocytochemistry with a specific antiserum to recombinant rat annexin 5. Follicular epithelial cells and parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland, adrenocortical cells of the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis, luteal cells, testicular interstitial cells, and Sertoli cells were shown to contain annexin 5. To examine whether the synthesis of annexin 5 would be affected by a change in humoral signal, the distribution of annexin 5 in the anterior pituitary was examined three weeks after ovariectomy. The withdrawal of ovarian hormones induced huge castration cells in the anterior pituitary gland, which contained abundant annexin 5. Annexin 5 was not detected in the pineal gland, the parathyroid gland, the islet of Langerhans, the adrenal medulla, zona glomerulosa cells, and granulosa cells. Since annexin 5 was shown to exist in many of the endocrine tissues examined, to be localized in specific cell types, and to be abundant in castration cells, it is suggested that annexin 5 contributes to secretory cell functions, which may be common to endocrine cells secreting chemically different hormones.