IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON PANCREATIC ENDOCRINE-CELLS AT EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE PIG

The studies were performed on pig embryos between 23rd and 31st day of intrauterine life. Immunocytochemical markers of neuroendocrine cells , i.e. neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin and synaptophysin as well as basal hormones, i.e. insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic p olypeptide and, additionally, serotonin and gastrin were detected in s erial sections. Our studies indicate that differentiation of pancreati c endocrine cells does not take place unitemporally. At the first stag e, the cells acquire the traits of neuroendocrine cells and secrete mo re than one hormone while final specialization toward cells secreting individual hormones take places at a later stage.