Effect of alloxan on rat pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells

Summary Injection of alloxan caused an almost total disappearance of insulin cells in the rat pancreas. Planimetric analysis revealed a 50 per cent reduction of the mean islet volume. The number of immunoreactive pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells per sectioned islet was significantly increased, and the PP cell volume per islet doubled. Assuming an unchanged number of islets, the results indicate an increase in total PP cell mass following alloxan administration.     

Immunocytochemical study of the distribuition of endocrine cells in the pancreas of the Brazilian sparrow species Zonotrichia Capensis Subtorquata (Swaison, 1837).

In the present study, we investigated types of pancreatic endocrine cells and its respective peptides in the Brazilian sparrow species using immunocytochemistry. The use of polyclonal specific antisera for somatostatin, glucagon, avian pancreatic polypeptide (APP), YY polypeptide (PYY) and insulin, revealed a diversified distribution in the pancreas. All these types of immunoreactive cells were observed in the pancreas with different amounts. Insulin-Immunoreactive cells to (B cells) were most numerous, preferably occupying the central place in the pancreatic islets. Somatostatin, PPA, PYY and glucagon immunoreactive cells occurred in a lower frequency in the periphery of pancreatic islets.     

哺乳动物胰腺体部胰多肽（PP）免疫反应细胞的比较研究

采用SPA-GDN免疫组化染色技术,对人、大鼠、小鼠、豚鼠、猪、狗和猫等七种哺乳动物胰腺体部胰多肽(PP)免疫反应细胞的分布和形态进行比较研究,结果表明,上述七种动物PP细胞的分布和形态有明显的种间差异。人、大鼠和小鼠PP细胞主要位于胰岛周边部,形成环形结构,少量PP细胞散布在外分泌部的腺泡和导管;而豚鼠、猪和猫的PP细胞则主要分布在外分泌部腺泡和导管上皮间;狗的PP细胞在内、外分泌部均有分布。PP细胞的形态在上述动物间也有明显的差异,这可能与该细胞在不同动物的作用途径及功能不同有关。     

5-羟色胺在豚鼠胰腺分布的免疫组织化学研究

本研究用ABC免疫染色法,结合葡萄糖氧化酶-DAB-硫酸镍铵(Glucose oxidase-DAB-Nickle,GDN)显色技术,在Bouin液固定的常规石蜡切片上,研究了5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamin,5-HT)在豚鼠胰腺内的定位和分布,并用相邻切片免疫双标记,观察了它与胰岛素的共存关系,结果发现,在豚鼠胰腺内,外分泌部均有5-HT免疫反应细胞分布。在胰腺内分泌部(胰岛)5-HT免疫反应细胞分布均匀,大部分胰岛细胞呈阳性5-HT样免疫反应,用相邻薄切片免疫双标记技术证明,胰岛内的5-HT免疫反应细胞主要是B细胞。在胰腺外分泌部,5-HT免疫反应细胞呈单个分散或聚集分布,主要位于腺泡和导管等处,偶见于结缔组织间隔中。本文对研究5-HT在胰腺的生理作用及其机制提供了形态学依据。     

An immunocytochemical and electron-microscopical study of endocrine cells in the gut and pancreas of a stomachless teleost fish,Barbus conchonius (Cyprinidae)

Summary Four immunoreactive endocrine cell types can be distinguished in the pancreatic islets of B. conchonius: insulin-producing B cells, somatostatin-producing A₁ (= D) cells, glucagon-producing A₂ cells and pancreatic poly-peptide-producing PP cells. The principal islet of this species contains only a few PP cells, while many PP cells are present in the smaller islets. Except for the B cell all pancreatic endocrine cell types are also present in the pancreatic duct.At least six enteroendocrine cell types are present in the gut of B. conchonius: 1. a cell type (I) with small secretory granules, present throughout the intestine, and possibly involved in the regulation of gut motility; 2. a C-terminal gastrin immunoreactive cell, probably producing a caerulein-like peptide; these cells are located at the upper parts of the folds, especially in the proximal part of the intestinal bulb; 3. a met-enkephalin-immunoreactive cell, present throughout the first segment; 4. a glucagon-immunoreactive cell, which is rare in the first segment; 5. a PP-immunoreactive cell, mainly present in the first half of the first segment; 6. an immunoreactive cell, which cannot at present be specified, located in the intestinal bulb. The latter four cell types are mostly located in the basal parts of the folds, although some PP-immunoreactive cells can also be found in the upper parts.Most if not all enteroendocrine cells are of the open type. The possible functions of all enteroendocrine cell types are discussed.Abbreviations BPP bovine pancreatic polypeptide - CCK cholecystokinin - GEP gastro-entero-pancreatic - GIP gastric inhibitory peptide or glucose-dependent insulin releasing peptide - PPP pig pancreatic polypeptide - VIP vasoactive intestinal polypeptide     

胰岛淀粉样多肽在豚鼠胰腺分布的免疫组织化学研究

本文用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ法,研究了胰岛淀粉样多肽（Ｉｓｌｅｔａｍｙｌｏｉｄｐｏｌｙｐｅｐｔｉｄｅ,ＩＡＰＰ或称Ａｍｙｌｉｎ）在豚鼠胰脏的分布,并用邻片免疫组织化学双标记法,观察了ＩＡＰＰ与胰岛素（Ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ,ＩＮＳ）、生长抑素（ＳｏｍａｔｏｓｔａｔｉｎＳＳ）的共存关系。结果显示,豚鼠胰岛内绝大多数细胞都呈ＩＡＰＰ阳性免疫反应,在胰外分泌部的腺泡和导管内也散在分布有ＩＡＰＰ免疫反应阳性细胞。多数ＩＡＰＰ免疫反应阳性的细胞都显示ＩＮＳ免疫反应阳性,胰岛内少数ＩＡＰＰ阳性细胞也呈ＳＳ免疫反应阳性。说明ＩＡＰＰ主要分布在豚鼠的胰岛内．但也少量存在于外分泌部。ＩＡＰＰ主要和ＩＮＳ共存于Ｂ细胞内。但也和ＳＳ共存于Ｄ细胞内,提示ＩＡＰＰ可能通过自分泌途径调节ＩＮＳ和ＳＳ的分泌。     

The endocrine cells in the gastroenteropancreatic system of the bowfin, Amia calva L.: an immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and immunocytochemical analysis.

The gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) endocrine system of bowfin (Amia calva) was described using light and electron microscopy and immunological methods. The islet organ (endocrine pancreas) consists of diffusely scattered, mostly small islets and isolated patches of cells among and within the exocrine acini. The islets are composed of abundant, centrally located B cells immunoreactive to bovine and lamprey insulin antisera and D cells showing a widespread distribution and specificity to somatostatin antibodies. A and F cells are present at the very periphery of the islets and are immunoreactive with antisera against glucagon (and glucagon-like peptide) and several peptides of the pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-family, respectively. The peptides of the two families usually collocates within the same peripheral islet cells and are the most common immunoreactive peptides present in the extra-islet tissue. Immunocytochemistry and fine structural observations characterised the granule morphology for B and D cells and identified two cell types with granules immunoreactive to glucagon antisera. These two putative A cells had similar granules, which were distinct from either B or D cells, but one of the cells had rod-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions within cisternae of what appeared to be rough endoplasmic reticulum. The inclusions were not immunoreactive to either insulin or glucagon antisera. Only small numbers of cells in the stomach and intestine immunoreacted to antisera against somatostatin, glucagon, and PP-family peptides. The paucity of these cells was reflected in the low concentrations of these peptides in intestinal extracts. The GEP system of bowfin is not unlike that of other actinopterygian fishes, but there are some marked differences that may reflect the antiquity of this system and/or may be a consequence of the ontogeny of this system in this species.     

GPR40 gene expression in human pancreas and insulinoma

To assess gene expression of a membrane-bound G-protein-coupled fatty acid receptor, GPR40, in the human pancreas and islet cell tumors obtained at surgery were analyzed. The mRNA level of the GPR40 gene in isolated pancreatic islets was approximately 20-fold higher than that in the pancreas, and the level was comparable to or rather higher than that of the sulfonylurea receptor 1 gene, which is known to be expressed abundantly in human pancreatic beta cells. A large amount of GPR40 mRNA was detected in tissue extracts from two cases of insulinoma, whereas the expression was undetectable in glucagonoma or gastrinoma. The present study demonstrates that GPR40 mRNA is expressed predominantly in pancreatic islets in humans and that GPR40 mRNA is expressed solely in human insulinoma among islet cell tumors. These results indicate that GPR40 is probably expressed in pancreatic beta cells in the human pancreas.     

大鼠胰腺嗜铬颗粒素A分布的免疫组织化学研究

本研究用ＡＢＣ免疫组织化学方法,在Ｂｏｕｉｎ液固定的常规石蜡切片上,观察了啥铬颗粒素Ａ在大鼠胰腺内分泌细胞内的定位和分布,并用相邻切片双标记法,观察了它与胰高血糖素、胰岛素、生长抑素的共存关系。结果发现,大鼠胰腺嗜铬颗粒素Ａ样免疫反应细胞主要分布于胰岛的周边部,胰腺外分泌部的导管和腺泡等处均未见ＣｇＡ祥物质存在。用相邻薄切片免疫显色技术证明,大鼠胰腺中ＣｇＡ样物质与胰高血糖素共存。结果提示,ＣｇＡ可能是胰腺内分泌细胞的一个新的标志物,在胰腺功能调节上发挥着重要作用。     

A non-receptor-type protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase is enriched in secretory vesicles of glucagon – and pancreatic polypeptide – secreting cells of the endocrine pancreas

 The secretory vesicles of some cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas contain high amounts of immunoreactive tyrosine phosphatase of the PTP1B/TCPTP subfamily. The cells are located in the peripheral parts of the islets and were identified as glucagon- and pancreatic polypeptide-forming cells. The tyrosine phosphatase is also enriched in some of the somatostatin-producing cells but is not elevated either in insulin-producing B-cells or in the exocrine pancreas. Virtually the same patterns were found in pancretic tissues of rats, guinea pigs, pigs, and mice. High levels of detergent-soluble tyrosine phosphatase were measured in the particular fraction of pancreatic islets with a substrate preferred by PTP1B/TCPTP-type protein tyrosine phosphatases. Accepted: 6 November 1998     

Ontogeny of rat pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells

Summary Cells storing pancreatic polypeptide (PP) appear in rat pancreas at the time of parturition, much later than insulin and glucagon cells. At this stage, the pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells occur scattered in the exocrine parenchyma and in the islets. Subsequently, 5–7 days postnatally, an abrupt increase in the number of PP cells occurs. At this stage, they are fairly numerous in the islets and comparatively rare in the exocrine parenchyma. Not until 8–10 days after birth is the number of PP cells similar to that in the adult pancreas. A few PP cells were seen in the antral mucosa during the first 10 days after birth. They were not seen elsewhere in the gut.     

Immunohistochemical study of the developing endocrine pancreas of the opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Cells immunoreactive for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, bovine pancreatic polypeptide and 5-hydroxytryptamine are found in the pancreas of the newborn opossum and of all later stages examined. All immunoreactive cell types are present in primary and secondary islets and within elements of the exocrine pancreas. Cells immunoreactive for glucagon, bovine pancreatic polypeptide, somatostatin and 5-hydroxytryptamine generally are confined to the periphery of secondary (intralobular) islets, whereas insulin-immunoreactive cells occupy the central region. Endocrine cells within primary (interlobular) islets are randomly scattered. A small number of pancreatic-polypeptide-immunoreactive cells are reactive for the amine 5-hydroxytryptamine also, but the reverse is not observed. The endocrine pancreas continues to differentiate and develop throughout postnatal life and into adulthood. Little difference was observed between the head and tail regions of the opossum pancreas for the measurements made.     

Appearance of immunoreactive endocrine cells during the development of the rat pancreas, with special reference to polypeptide-secreting cells

The chronological appearance of PP cells in fetal pancreatic islets was studied using specific anti-PP serum and the direct peroxidase method. The presence of A and B cells was also studied, using the same immunocytochemical technique, as a reference pattern related to data previously reported. Our data confirm that the A cell is the earliest endocrine cell type, appearing on the 12th day of gestation, followed by B cells (14th day) and later on by PP cells (19th day). Primitive islets were identified in the pancreas after the 15th day. However, the spatial cell disposition observed in the adult islet was only recognized at the 20th day of gestation. The data reported provide the necessary information to establish the complete chronology in the rat fetus. Consequently, the development of pancreatic islets in the rat fetus could be employed as a useful model to study the existence of factors that control the sequential appearance of endocrine cells and the possible changes occurring in the islets of animals with genetic diabetes during the fetal period.     

Development of endocrine pancreatic islets in embryos of the grass snake Natrix natrix (Lepidosauria,Serpentes)

Differentiation of the pancreatic islets in grass snake Natrix natrix embryos, was analyzed using light, transmission electron microscopy, and immuno-gold labeling. The study focuses on the origin of islets, mode of islet formation, and cell arrangement within islets. Two waves of pancreatic islet formation in grass snake embryos were described. The first wave begins just after egg laying when precursors of endocrine cells located within large cell agglomerates in the dorsal pancreatic bud differentiate. The large cell agglomerates were divided by mesenchymal cells thus forming the first islets. This mode of islet formation is described as fission. During the second wave of pancreatic islet formation which is related to the formation of the duct mantle, we observed four phases of islet formation: (a) differentiation of individual endocrine cells from the progenitor layer of duct walls (budding) and their incomplete delamination; (b) formation of two types of small groups of endocrine cells (A/D and B) in the wall of pancreatic ducts; (c) joining groups of cells emerging from neighboring ducts (fusion) and rearrangement of cells within islets; (d) differentiated pancreatic islets with characteristic arrangement of endocrine cells. Mature pancreatic islets of the grass snake contained mainly A endocrine cells. Single B and D or PP–cells were present at the periphery of the islets. This arrangement of endocrine cells within pancreatic islets of the grass snake differs from that reported from most others vertebrate species. Endocrine cells in the pancreas of grass snake embryos were also present in the walls of intralobular and intercalated ducts. At hatching, some endocrine cells were in contact with the lumen of the pancreatic ducts.     

A light-microscopic immunocytochemical study of the endocrine pancreas in the Australian brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).

The endocrine pancreas of the Australian brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) was investigated by means of immunocytochemistry using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. This was a light microscopic study using this established technique. Serial paraffin sections were stained individually with primary antibodies for glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), showing the same islet. Cells immunoreactive to glucagon, insulin, somatostatin and PP were found in endocrine islets. PP cells appear to be scattered amidst the exocrine portion also. Insulin immunoreactive cells were located in the central region of islet, glucagon in the periphery, somatostatin in periphery and had elongated processes. PP cells were more sparse and located both in the periphery of islet and amidst the exocrine tissue. These results can then be related to a similar study in the same marsupial, but using the immunofluorescence technique and to studies in other marsupials such as grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crasicaudata) and the American opossum (Didelphis virginiana). These investigations are part of a study in Australian mammals.     

Localization of pancreatic polypeptide cells in a limited lobe of the human neonate pancreas: Remnant of the ventral primordium?

The localization of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells was studied in the pancreas of four human neonates by specific immunocytochemical techniques. PP cells were detected in all parts of the pancreas. However, examination at low magnification showed that they were considerably more numerous in a small lobe, located at the posterior-inferior part of the head region. It is suggested that this lobe corresponds to the part of the pancreas that is derived from the ventral primordium. Both in the lobe rich in PP cells and in the remainder of the pancreas, approximately 75% of PP cells were present in the islets and 25% distributed among acini and ducts.     

Ontogeny of immunoreactive glicentin in the human gastrointestinal tract and endocrine pancreas

The gestational time of appearance and distribution of immunoreactive glicentin was compared to that of immunoreactive glucagon in the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine pancreas of human fetuses, aged between 5 and 24 weeks, by an indirect immunoperoxidase method. With the glicentin antiserum No. R 64, the first immunoreactive cells were detected at the 10th week of gestation in the oxyntic mucosa and proximal small intestine, at the 8th week in the ileum and at the 12th week in the colon. In the endocrine pancreas, the first immunoreactive cells were observed as early as 8 weeks within the walls of the primitive pancreatic ductules. At a more advanced stage of development (12 weeks), they were found interspersed among the islet cell clusters and still later (16 weeks) inside the recognizable islets of Langerhans. With the glucagon antiserum No. GB 5667, no immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in the gastrointestinal tract whatever the age of the fetuses. In the endocrine pancreas, the first immunoreactive cells were observed at the 8th week of gestation in the pancreatic parenchyma. The distribution of glucagon-containing cells in the pancreas was similar to that of glicentin immunoreactivity throughout ontogenesis. In the pancreatic islets of one 18-week-old human fetus, the study of consecutive semithin sections treated by both antisera showed that the same cells were labelled. The significance of these findings concerning the role of glicentin as a glucagon precursor is discussed.     

Embryogenesis of the murine endocrine pancreas; early expression of pancreatic polypeptide gene.

By immunofluorescence on cytospin preparations and on semithin sections of mouse pancreatic buds, we have found glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-containing cells at embryonal day 10.5 (E 10.5) in dorsal buds and at E 11.5 in ventral buds. Insulin-containing cells appear in dorsal buds at E 11.5, and one to two days later in ventral buds. Somatostatin-containing cells are detectable from E 13.5 in both dorsal and ventral buds. A quantitative analysis shows that up to E 15.5, PP-containing cells are relatively abundant in both buds. By PCR amplification of oligo(dT)-primed cDNAs prepared from total pancreatic RNA, we also detect PP mRNA from E 10.5 onwards, thus confirming the early expression of the PP gene in the developing mouse pancreas. Analysis of endocrine cells in situ suggests three major patterns of cell distribution in embryonic pancreas. First, individual hormone-containing cells are located within the epithelium of pancreatic ducts. In both dorsal and ventral buds, the majority of these endocrine cells contain PP, but many also contain glucagon, insulin or somatostatin. Secondly, clusters of endocrine cells are found in the pancreatic interstitium. Many of these cells contain both glucagon and PP which, by immunogold labelling of consecutive thin sections, can be shown to co-exist within individual secretory granules. Finally, starting on E 18.5, typical islets are formed with centrally located B cells and with the adult 'one cell-one hormone' phenotype. These results suggest an intriguing ontogenic relationship between A- and PP-cells, and also indicate that PP-containing cells may occupy a hitherto unexpected place in the lineage of endocrine islet cells.     

Impaired differentiation of endocrine and exocrine cells of the pancreas in transgenic mouse expressing the truncated type II activin receptor

Activin A is expressed in endocrine precursor cells of the fetal pancreatic anlage. To determine the physiological significance of activins in the pancreas, a transgenic mouse line expressing the truncated type II activin receptor under the control of beta-actin promoter was developed. Histological analyses of the pancreas revealed that the pancreatic islets of the transgenic mouse were small in size and were located mainly along the pancreatic ducts. Immunoreactive insulin was detected in islets, some acinar cells, and in some epithelial cells in the duct. In addition, there were abnormal endocrine cells outside the islets. The shape and the size of the endocrine cells varied and some of them were larger than islets. These cells expressed immunoreactive insulin and glucagon. In the exocrine portion, there were morphologically abnormal exocrine cells, which did not form a typical acinar structure. The cells lacked spatial polarity characteristics of acinar cells but expressed immunoreactive amylase, which was distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm. Plasma glucose concentration was normal in the transgenic mouse before and after the administration of glucose. The insulin content of the pancreas in transgenic and normal mice was nearly identical. These results suggest that activins or related ligands regulate the differentiation of the pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells.