A comparative immunohistochemical study of endocrine cells in the digestive tract of two frugivorous bats: Artibeus cinerius and Sturnira lilium.
The purpose of the present study was to examine the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), gastrin (GAS), cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon (GLUC) endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of frugivorous Phillostomidae bats, Sturnira lilium and Artibeus cinerius, to clarify the correlation between distribution of cell types and their relative frequency, with feeding habits. Five portions of the gastrointestinal tract--fundus, pilorus, and three parts of the intestine, I, II and III--were examined. Most of the immunoreactive cells in the stomach and intestine were of triangular, oval or piriform shape. Serotonin-immunoreactive cells were most commonly found in the S. lilium intestine I (66.6+/-9.9) and the A. cinerius intestine III (35+/-18). Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were the most abundant cell type in the pyloric glands of both species. They were more numerous in A. cinerius (126.9+/-27.4) than in S. lilium (75.8+/-1.8). CCK-immunoreactive cells were found in the alimentary tract epithelia at moderate frequencies in both species. GLUC-immunoreactive cells were detected at very low or low frequencies. This study suggests that there is a correlation between endocrine cell distribution and frequency, and the feeding habits of the bats.
Dos Santos
Clarice Machado
CM
Postgraduate Program in Animal Biology, Animal Biology Department, UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. claricemachado@yahoo.com.br
Do Nascimento
Aparecida Alves
AA
Peracchi
Adriano Lucio
AL
Dias
Daniela
D
Ribeiro
Thatiana Paz
TP
Sales
Armando
A
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera; D019858:Enteroendocrine Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D007106:Immune Sera; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012701:Serotonin