AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY ON THE ENDOCRINE PANCREAS OF CAIMAN-LATIROSTRIS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PANCREATIC MOTILIN CELLS

Pancreatic endocrine cells of Caiman latirostris were investigated by electron microscopy using conventional and immunocytochemical methods. Ultrastructurally, four types of endocrine cells were classified according to the morphology of their secretory granules. Three types of endocrine cells were identified as either glucagon, insulin or somatostatin cells by the presence of such characteristic granules well established in mammals. The remaining endocrine cell type could not be classified by its ultrastructural features alone.Immunocytochemical observations confirmed the ultrastructural classification of glucagon, insulin and somatostatin cells. In addition, endocrine cells immunoreactive for either pancreatic polypeptide (PP) or motilin were identified. Morphometric analysis of PP- and motilin-immunoreactive granules demonstrated that they were the most polymorphous and smallest granules among the pancreatic endocrine cell granules. Although both PP and motilin granules closely resemble each other, motilin granules were smaller in size and more spherical in shape than PP granules.

MOTILIN-IMMUNOREACTIVE CELLS IN THE DUODENUM, PYLORIC STOMACH AND PANCREAS OF CAIMANS (CAIMAN-LATIROSTRIS AND CAIMAN-CROCODILUS, ALLIGATORINAE) - A FURTHER COMPARISON USING REGION-SPECIFIC MOTILIN ANTISERA

Motilin-immunoreactive cells in the duodenum, pyloric stomach and pancreas of Caiman latirostris and Caiman crocodilus were investigated using region specific antisera for porcine and canine motilin molecules. Motilin-immunoreactive cells were found in the duodenum, pyloric stomach and pancreas of both caiman species. These cells were primarily open-type endocrine ones in the epithelium of the duodenum and pyloric stomach. Motilin-immunoreactive cells were observed in both the exocrine and endocrine portions of the pancreas, and frequently exhibited one or more cytoplasmic processes of variable length. Since motilin-immunoreactive cells do not cross-react with serotonin or any of the other pancreatic and gut hormones, they are considered to be cell type independent from any of the other known pancreatic or gut endocrine cells. The molecular similarity between caiman motilin and porcine and canine motilins and the heterogeneity of the motilin molecule in the caiman digestive system is discussed.

Imunolocalização de hormônios em células endócrinas do esôfago, estômago e duodeno do muçuã Kinosternon scorpioides (Kinosternidae)

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