Co-localization of neuroendocrine hormones in the human fetal pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
Co-localization of the four major pancreatic hormones, and also of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY), secretin and neurotensin, has been studied in the endocrine pancreas of human fetuses at 16, 18 and 22 weeks of gestation.


METHODS
Double and triple immunofluorescence stainings have been used.


RESULTS
All three fetal pancreata contained cells that showed insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), IAPP, secretin and PYY immunoreactivity. Neurotensin cells were found in the youngest fetus and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) in the two older fetuses. Co-localization of two hormones occurred in most of the endocrine cell types in the three fetuses examined, but three hormones occurred in only a few cells and especially in the youngest fetus. Somatostatin cells were the only cell type which was largely monohormonal. Our findings showed that there are two different co-localization patterns: insulin was co-localized mainly with IAPP and glucagon, while secretin and PYY occurred together with glucagon and PP.


CONCLUSIONS
These data are the first to describe secretin and neurotensin in the fetal pancreas. Two different co-localization patterns could be distinguished: insulin, IAPP and glucagon, and glucagon, secretin, PP and PYY.
Portela-Gomes
G M
GM
Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Johansson
H
H
Olding
L
L
Grimelius
L
L
D000682:Amyloid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005934:Glucagon / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019894:Peptide YY / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012633:Secretin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000682:Amyloid; D007328:Insulin; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D019894:Peptide YY; D012633:Secretin; D009496:Neurotensin; D013004:Somatostatin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D005934:Glucagon