ULTRASTRUCTURAL IDENTIFICATION OF SOMATOSTATIN-IMMUNOREACTIVE CELLS IN THE PYLORIC GLANDS OF THE RUIN LIZARD (PODARCIS-SICULA CAMPESTRIS DEBETTA) BY IMMUNOGOLD STAINING

The pyloric glands of a reptile, the ruin lizard (Podarcis sicula camp estris De Betta), have been examined by immunocytochemistry and by tra nsmission electron microscopy. There are four main ultrastructural typ es of enteroendocrine cells whose secretory granules showed similariti es to mammalian EC cells (type I), D1 or ECL cells (type II), G cells (type III), and D cells (type IV). Immunogold staining identified and characterized the type IV cells as the somatostatin-storing cells. The y were of the open type, with round or ovoid immunoreactive granules o f varying electron density. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.