title: Apelin cells in the rat stomach.
abstract: Apelin is a recently discovered peptide that is the endogenous ligand for the APJ receptor. Apelin is produced in the central nervous system, heart, lung, mammary gland and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim of this study was to identify by immunohistochemistry (IHC) cell types in the rat stomach that produce apelin peptide. IHC revealed abundant apelin-positive cells, primarily in the neck and upper base regions of the gastric glands in the mucosal epithelium. Apelin is not detected in the muscle layer. Apelin-positive cells were identified as mucous neck, parietal cells, and chief cells. Apelin is also identified in gastric epithelial cells that produce chromogranin A (CGA), a marker of enteroendocrine cells. The findings that apelin is expressed in gastric exocrine and endocrine cells agrees with and extends other data showing that apelin peptide is measurable in the gut lumen and in the systemic circulation by immunoassay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Susaki
authors.forename: Guiyun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Hui-Quin
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ella W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Englander
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Greeley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000073861:Apelin; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019872:Chief Cells, Gastric / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000073861:Apelin; C498579:Apln protein, rat; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins