Gene expression and immunohistochemical localization of megalin in the anterior pituitary gland of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

Megalin/the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2 (LRP-2) is expressed in a variety of epithelia and mediates endocytosis of numerous substances. Megalin is also shown to bind clusterin with high affinity. In the pituitary gland, clusterin is localized in endocrine cells, folliculostellate (FS) cells and colloids. The present study examines the expression pattern of megalin within the gland and assesses its cellular localization to that of clusterin so as to deduce their functional implications in colloidal accumulation as relevant in vivo. Quantity of megalin mRNA expression in pituitary and other endocrine tissues was quantified by real-time PCR using SYBR-green I detective system. High levels were detected in kidneys and pituitary. In situ hybridization showed megalin mRNA in FS cells. Megalin protein detected by immunohistochemistry was also observed in FS cells. Immunoelectron microscopy clearly showed the localization of megalin in peripheral region of colloid-containing follicles and on vesicular structures in FS cells. Immunolabeling was also found to be associated with membranes of vacuoles in apoptotic endocrine cells and cell remnants engulfed by FS cells. Double immunofluorescence labeling was performed to determine whether megalin and clusterin in the anterior pituitary were present within the same cell. Simultaneous localization was detected in almost all FS cells surrounding colloids and in several foci of FS cells surrounding endocrine cells. These findings suggest that megalin may drive ingestion of clusterin complexes with products of digested apoptotic endocrine cells in FS cells, and thereby providing a potential mechanism for a receptor mediated uptake of degenerating endocrine cells and secretion of colloid.