title: An immunohistochemical study of the endocrine pancreas in raptors.
abstract: The cytoarchitecture of the endocrine pancreas of 10 raptors (golden eagles, peregrine falcons, Saker falcon, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawk and unspecified falcon) was examined by immunohistochemistry. Three islet types were identified: type A mixed islets composed mainly by glucagon (A)-secreting cells, type B mixed islets with predominantly insulin (B)-secreting cell component and type M mixed islets (type M) consisting of variable number of glucagon-, insulin- and somatostatin (D)-secreting cells. The latter were further characterized into Type I, II or III according to the cell distribution of the three cell types. A and D cells were also randomly scattered within the exocrine pancreas. The results of this study suggest that the classical concept in birds of a segregation of A and B cells in well-defined and distinct islets is not applicable in raptors, reflecting an evolutionary adaptation to different dietary habits and variation in developmental mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton 4343, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare Branch, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Tulare, CA 93274-9042, USA. Electronic address: c.palmieri@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Shivaprasad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020304:Raptors / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D005934:Glucagon
keywords: Avian; Endocrine pancreas; Immunohistochemistry; Raptor