Biologic and radioimmunologic activity of cholecystokinin in regions of mammalian brains

The distribution and heterogeneity of cholecystokinin (CCK) in different regions of the central nervous system (CNS) of 12 adult rats and six cows was determined by means of specific radioimmunoassays. In addition, the biologic activity of immunoreactive material was evaluated in a bioassay that used a rabbit gallbladder-strip preparation. High amounts of immunochemically detectable CCK-8 (20.2 ± 1.5 pmol/g) and CCK-33 (33.7 ± 3.3 pmol/g) and of biologically active CCK were found in the telencephalon, although concentrations decreased progressively from the rostral to the caudal portions of the brain. The distribution and biologic activity of CCK was similar in rat and cow brain. Ratios of biologic to immunologic activity ranged from 1.0 to 8.0 and were higher for CCK-8 than for CCK-33. The results indicate that (1) CCK-8 and CCK-33 immunoreactivity are widely distributed throughout the CNS in a unique and differential manner; (2) CCK is biologically active in all the regions of the brain, with a pattern of distribution similar to that found with radioimmunoassay; (3) measurable bioactivity was equal to or greater than measurable immunoreactivity in all areas of the brain in rat and cow; and (4) CCK is present in tissues without significant species differences between rat and cow.