Catecholamine-containing pancreatic islet cells of the domestic fowl. Light, fluorescence and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.
In an attempt to identify pancreatic islet cells emitting formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF), the pancreatic islets of the domestic fowl were studied by combined fluorescence, ultrastructural, silver-impregnation and immunohistochemical methods in the same section or in consecutive semi-thin and ultra-thin sections. The results indicate that islet cells emitting intense FIF exhibit a strongly argyrophil reaction with the Grimelius' silver method and also immunohistochemical reaction with anti-glucagon serum, but not with anti-5-HT serum. Therefore, the fowl islet A cell, a peptide hormone-producing cell, stores simultaneously catecholamine as biogenic amine. The islet B and D cells did not display any FIF, any argyrophil reaction with the Grimelius' silver method, or any immunoreactivity with anti-glucagon or anti-5-HT sera. The fluorescent but non-argyrophil cells dispersed in the exocrine acinus may well be PP cells.
D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D005934:Glucagon