Evidence for the colocalization of gastrin/CCK- and PYY/PP-immunoreactive substances in the small intestine of the lizard Podarcis hispanica: immunocytochemical and ultrastructural study

An immunohistochemical study of endocrine cells in the alimentary tract of the grass lizard, Takydromus wolteri Fischer (Laceridae)

Distribution patterns and the relative frequency of different types of endocrine cells were demonstrated in the alimentary tract of the grass lizard, Takydromus wolteri, using nine specific antibodies raised against mammalian regulatory peptides. The alimentary tract of the lizard was divided into six portions from the esophagus to the rectum. Most endocrine cells were found in the epithelial lining and were generally spindle shaped with long cytoplasmic processes ending in the lumen (open cell type), whereas cells that were spherical in shape (closed cell type) were occasionally found in gastric, esophageal and intestinal glands. Endocrine cells were stained for the following regulatory peptides: bovine Sp-1/chromogranin (BCG), serotonin, somatostatin, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, glucagon, insulin, human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) and secretin. Cells stained for BCG and serotonin were present throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract and they occurred with the highest frequency in stomach and pylorus, respectively. Somatostatin-positive cells were detected throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract except for the esophagus and large intestine, and were most predominant in pylorus and duodenum. Cells stained for gastrin were restricted to the pylorus and duodenum and occurred with a relatively low frequency. CCK-8-positive cells were observed from pylorus to small intestine and showed the highest frequency in the pylorus. Glucagon- and insulin-containing cells were located in duodenum and small intestine but were found only rarely. HPP-stained cells were detected in duodenum and small intestine with the highest frequency in duodenum. Cells stained for secretin were restricted to duodenum and were found only rarely. In conclusion, distribution patterns and the relative frequency of these endocrine cells correspond well with previous reports on distribution patterns of endocrine cells in reptile species but some deviating patterns were also observed.

An immunohistochemical study on the endocrine cells in the alimentary tract of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The regional distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the alimentary tract of the red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, were investigated by immunohistochemical methods using 10 antisera. Most of the immunoreactive cells in the intestine were spherical or spindle-like in shape (open-type cells), while round cells (closed-type cells) were occasionally found in the stomach. These immunoreactive cells were located in the basal portion of the intestine, including the oesophagus, and in the gastric glands of the stomach. Cg A-immunoreactive cells were restricted to the pylorus and duodenum and were few in number. Serotonin-immunoreactive cells, which were most commonly found in the pylorus, were found in the epithelia throughout the alimentary tract at various frequencies. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were found in the pylorus, duodenum and jejunum at moderate, low and very low frequencies, respectively. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were found throughout the alimentary tract except for the rectum, at various frequencies. Glucagon-immunoreactive cells were detected in the fundus, pylorus, jejunum and ileum at low or very low frequencies. CCK-8-immunoreactive cells were found in the pylorus, fundus and duodenum at very low, low and moderate frequencies, respectively. Bombesin-immunoreactive cells were restricted to the fundus and pylorus at low frequencies. No secretin-, BPP- or VIP-immunoreactive cells were found in this study.