title: Immunohistochemical investigations of beta-endorphin in human pancreatic islets.
abstract: The PAP technique was used to examine adult human pancreata (corpus) immunohistochemically for the presence of beta-endorphin containing cells. These cells were found to account for 4.8% of the islet cells. They are irregularly distributed within the islets, where they occur singly or in groups of 3 to 5 cells between the acini (0.4% of the parenchyma). Investigations designed to detect the simultaneous presence of beta-endorphin and somatostatin or glucagon revealed that beta-endorphin occurs in somatostatin cells (1.0% of the islet parenchyma). This is the 1st proof that these 2 hormones appear together. The simultaneous presence of beta-endorphin and glucagon in the same cell was also observed in 0.9% of the islet parenchyma. Earlier studies undertaken by us have shown that beta-endorphin is synthetized in the islets of Langerhans. Possible functions of beta-endorphin in the islets are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, GDR.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: von Dorsche
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fält
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zühlke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000032:analysis; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D005934:Glucagon