title: Localization of immunoreactive gastrin-like cells in the alimentary tract of the ascidian Styela plicata.
abstract: The occurrence of a gastrin-like immunoreactivity in the alimentary tract of the ascidian Styela plicata has been investigated using immunocytochemical methods. Gastrin-like cells are present only in the gastric epithelium among the cell types responsible for digestion and absorption of food. The physiological role played by the ascidian gastrin-like peptides is discussed together with the evolutionary history of peptides of the gastrin/cholecystokinin family.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Anatomia Comparata, Università di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pestarino
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Garaud
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ravera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004064:Digestive System / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005755:Gastrins / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D014561:Urochordata / Q000032:analysis* / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins