title: Pancreatic endocrine cells in Bufo bufo: immunocytochemistry and ultrastructure.
abstract: The endocrine pancreas of the toad consists of rounded islets of various sizes embedded in the exocrine tissue. Isolated cells are also present. At least 4 types of endocrine cell are distinguishable by shape, size and electrondensity of the secretory granules as well as by their immunoreactivity with different antisera: insulin, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, and glucagon cells. Insulin cells can be divided into 2 types according to their cytoplasmic electrondensity. Colocalisation of different hormones in the same cell is rarely observed. The close contact between endocrine and exocrine cells and the scarcity of nerve supply is indicative of a paracrine control of hormone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. Accordi@axrma.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Accordi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ventola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002023:Bufo bufo / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000032:analysis; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D005934:Glucagon