Altered biosynthesis of neuropeptide processing enzyme carboxypeptidase E after brain ischemia: molecular mechanism and implication.

In this study, using both in vivo and in vitro ischemia models, the authors investigated the impact of brain ischemia on the biosynthesis of a key neuropeptide-processing enzyme, carboxypeptidase E (CPE). The response to brain ischemia of animals that lacked an active CPE was also examined. Combined in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical analyses for CPE showed reciprocal changes of CPE mRNA and protein, respectively, in the same cortical cells in rat brains after focal cerebral ischemia.