Ultrastructure of avian gastrin cell granules.
Gastrin cells in the pigeon, quail, gull and kite were identified at ultrastructural level by immunocytochemistry, using the consecutive semithin/ultrathin section technique. In contrast to the gastrin granules known in mammals, the avian gastrin granules generally contained a consistent dense core accompanied by a clear halo between the core and limiting membrane. The mean diameters of gastrin granules in the pigeon, quail, gull and kite were 211 +/- 37, 247 +/- 45, 331 +/- 61 and 353 +/- 73 nm respectively. The carnivorous birds seemed to possess larger gastrin granules than the grain-eating birds. The species differences in the size and fine structures of the gastrin granules were discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003370:Coturnix / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005755:Gastrins / Q000032:analysis*; D013278:Stomach, Avian / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D005755:Gastrins