Molecular analysis of neurolysin expression in the rat and bovine ciliary body.

This paper deals with the capability of the ciliary epithelium to express neurolysin, involved in the inactivation of numerous neuropeptides. Total RNAs from ciliary body (CB) were processed for RT-PCR, and the amplification products were sequenced. The whole-protein extracts of CBs were analyzed using the Western blot. The CBs were processed for neurolysin immunolocalization. The RT-PCR detected the presence of neurolysin mRNA in the ciliary body. The Western blot assays demonstrated immunochemical cross-reactivity with neurolysin. The immunoreactivity to neurolysin was observed in ciliary epithelium. These results indicate that the ciliary epithelium expresses neurolysin.