gamma MSH-like, ACTH-like, and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivities (gamma MSH-LI, ACTH-LI, and beta-endorphin-LI, respectively) were detected in water extracts of four human gastric antral mucosa. The concentrations of gamma MSH-LI, ACTH-LI, and beta-endorphin-LI in the boiling water extracts were 9.9 +/- 3.3, 6.2 +/- 1.8, and 3.9 +/- 1.3 ng/g (mean +/- SE), respectively. Gel exclusion chromatography on a Bio-Gel P-60 column showed that most ACTH-LI and beta-endorphin-LI were eluted at the elution positions of human ACTH and beta-endorphin, respectively. The major peak of gamma MSH-LI was eluted at the elution position of big gamma MSH-LI, but another peak was eluted at the elution position of small gamma MSH-LI, as in bovine intermediate pituitary. Concanavalin A-agarose affinity chromatography showed that 52% of gamma MSH-LI was specifically bound to the column, but only 8% of ACTH-LI and none of beta-endorphin-LI were specifically bound. These results suggest that there exists an ACTH/beta-lipotropin common precursor protein in human antral mucosa and that the processing of the precursor is accelerated as a bovine intermediate pituitary, indicating possible roles of these peptides in the function of the gastrointestinal tract.