Immunocytochemical localization of insulin- and glucagonlike peptides in rat salivary glands.
An avidin-biotin immunocytochemical technique was used to localize cells containing an insulin- or glucagon-like peptide in the major salivary glands of Sprague-Dawley rats. Cells with insulin-like staining were observed in the intercalated ducts of both the parotid and submandibular glands, but none were found in the sublingual gland. A discrete population of cells with intense glucagon-like immunostaining was associated with the acini of all three major salivary glands. This immunostaining only followed use of a glucagon antiserum with N-terminal specificity and not after incubation of tissues with an anti-glucagon serum having C-terminal specificity. These results suggest that rat salivary glands may contain peptides potentially capable of influencing substrate metabolism. In addition, the present findings indicate that the glucagon-like peptide found in salivary glands has a greater immunocytochemical similarity to glicentin (gut-type glucagon) and/or glucagon precursors than to the 3500 molecular weight pancreatic glucagon.
D000818:Animals; D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000032:analysis*; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000032:analysis; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000032:analysis
D007328:Insulin; D001360:Avidin; D001710:Biotin; D005934:Glucagon