Structure of neuro-endocrine and neuro-epithelial interactions in human foetal pancreas.
In the pancreas of many mammals including humans, endocrine islet cells can be integrated with the nervous system components into neuro-insular complexes. The mechanism of the formation of such complexes is not clearly understood. The present study evaluated the interactions between the nervous system components, epithelial cells and endocrine cells in the human pancreas. Foetal pancreas, gestational age 19-23 weeks (13 cases) and 30-34 weeks (7 cases), were studied using double immunohistochemical labeling with neural markers (S100 protein and beta III tubulin), epithelial marker (cytokeratin 19 (CK19)) and antibodies to insulin and glucagon. We first analyse the structure of neuro-insular complexes using confocal microscopy and provide immunohistochemical evidences of the presence of endocrine cells within the ganglia or inside the nerve bundles. We showed that the nervous system components contact with the epithelial cells located in ducts or in clusters outside the ductal epithelium and form complexes with separate epithelial cells. We observed CK19-positive cells inside the ganglia and nerve bundles which were located separately or were integrated with the islets. Therefore, we conclude that neuro-insular complexes may forms as a result of integration between epithelial cells and nervous system components at the initial stages of islets formation.
Laboratory of Nervous System Development, Research Institute of Human Morphology, 117418, Tsurupy St. 3, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: homulkina@gmail.com.
Yuliya
Y
Krivova
Laboratory of Nervous System Development, Research Institute of Human Morphology, 117418, Tsurupy St. 3, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: proshchina@yandex.ru.
Alexandra
A
Proshchina
Laboratory of Nervous System Development, Research Institute of Human Morphology, 117418, Tsurupy St. 3, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: barabanov6@rambler.ru.
Valeriy
V
Barabanov
Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Vavilova St. 32, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: popenko@eimb.ru.
Olga
O
Leonova
Laboratory of Nervous System Development, Research Institute of Human Morphology, 117418, Tsurupy St. 3, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: embrains@hotmail.com.
Sergey
S
Saveliev
D055098:Endocrine Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus; D005724:Ganglia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D005934:Glucagon / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis
D007328:Insulin; D053539:Keratin-19; D009418:S100 Proteins; C498585:TUBB3 protein, human; D014404:Tubulin; D005934:Glucagon
Beta III tubulin; Cytokeratin 19; Human development; Neuro-insular complex; Pancreas; S100 protein