Localization of motilin-immunopositive cells in the rat intestine by light microscopic immunocytochemistry.
Motilin-immunopositive cells (Mo cells) are known to exist in the upper small intestine of many species including man. However, the possible presence of Mo cells in the rat gastrointestine has remained obscure because antiserum against it raised in rabbit was found not to cross-react with motilin in the rat gastrointestine. The present study was designed to investigate the distribution of Mo cells in the rat gastrointestine by the peroxidase-conjugated second antibody method using newly raised chicken anti-motilin serum (CPV3). This antiserum was suggested to recognize the N-terminal region of the motilin molecule by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunocytochemical absorption test. Mo cells detected in the rat gastrointestine by immunocytochemistry were found to be distributed in the duodenum (1.5 cells/mm2), jejunum (2.2 cells/mm2), and ileum (0.028 cells/mm2), and no positive cells were found in the gastric body, gastric antrum, cecum, colon, or pancreas. The immunopositive cells in the rat intestine were spindle shaped or polygonal, scattered throughout the epithelium of the villi and crypts, and similar to those commonly observed in the upper small intestine of other species. These results indicate for the first time that motilin-immunopositive cells do exist in the rat intestine.
Sakai
T
T
Gastrointestinal Research Laboratory, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan.
Satoh
M
M
Koyama
H
H
Iesaki
K
K
Umahara
M
M
Fujikura
K
K
Itoh
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004386:Duodenum / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009037:Motilin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D009037:Motilin