title: The localization of oxytocin receptors in the islets of Langerhans in the rat pancreas.
abstract: In this study, oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in the islets of Langerhans were detected using real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique. Indeed, OTR mRNA was expressed in the rat pancreas. Double immunohistochemical staining for OTR and either glucagon or insulin demonstrated their co-localization in A-cells or B-cells, respectively. OTR-immunoreactivity in A-cells was stronger than that of B-cells. All A-cells and 94.8% of B-cells were OTR-immunoreactive. We reveal the statistically significant relations of OTR with A-cells and B-cells in the islets of Langerhans. This is the first demonstration of the OTR localization in the islets of Langerhans immunohistochemically. It suggests that oxytocin (OT) is involved in the release of insulin and glucagon.
authors.affiliation: Division of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Division of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Division of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Ming-Zi
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadahiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masuko
authors.affiliation: Division of Histology and Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga 849-8501, Japan. Electronic address: murata@cc.saga-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin