An immunocytochemical survey of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of chicks at hatching.
The distribution of gastrin-, cholecystokinin-, glucagon-, secretin-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, substance P-, bombesin-, neurotensin-, motilin-, somatostatin- and avian pancreatic polypeptide-like cells, demonstrated by indirect immunocytochemistry, was studied in samples from the following regions: proventriculus, gizzard, pylorus, duodenum, upper and lower ileum, caeca and rectum. The pylorus is particularly rich in gastrin-, neurotensin- and somatostatin-like cells. No cells immunoreactive for gastric inhibitory polypeptide or insulin were detected. In a number of instances the same cells were found to stain with antisera raised to different gut peptides. This happened with antisera detecting gastrin- and neurotensin-like cells, with secretin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, glucagon and substance P. The possibility that antigenic determinants to more than one peptide are contained in certain endocrine-like cells is considered.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000166:cytology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000166:cytology*; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis; D006728:Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000032:analysis; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000032:analysis; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D006728:Hormones; D013373:Substance P; D009496:Neurotensin; D013004:Somatostatin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D005934:Glucagon