AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGASTRICSIN-IMMUNOREACTIVE CELLS IN THE BOVINE ABOMASAL MUCOSA

The development of progastricsin-immunoreactive cells in the abomasal mucosa of cattle fetuses was studied by immunohistochemistry. Progastr icsin-immunoreactive cells were detected first in the fundic and pylor ic regions of 52 cm in crown-rump length (CRL) fetuses (about 180 days of gestation). The frequency of occurrence of progastricsin-immunorea ctive cells and the intensity of their immunoreactivity increased with the progress of gestation, but most of these immunoreactivities were restricted to the basal portion of the fundic and pyloric glands. Afte r birth, in the fundic mucosa, progastricsin immunoreactivities were f ound not only in the chief cells but also in the surface mucous cells of the gastric pits. In the cow, the immunoreactivity of the surface m ucous cells was even stronger than that of the chief cells. In the pyl oric mucosa, progastricsin immunoreactivities were found in the gastri c pits and in the basal portion of the pyloric glands, but they were o rganized in small groups and showed a patchy distribution in the basal portions.