IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ENDOCRINE-CELLS AND NERVES IN THE INTESTINE OF RANA-TEMPORARIA

Endocrine cells have been identified in the intestine of the frog Rana temporaria after application of the Grimelius and Masson-Fontana tech niques. These endocrine cells were examined using immunocytochemical t echniques on paraffin and semithin sections for light microscopy. Afte r testing 19 antisera, 12 immunoreactivities were identified. Numerous serotonin-, somatostatin- and GLP-1-immunoreactive cells; a moderate number of PYY-, glucagon-, VIP-, gastrin/CCK-immunoreactive cells and few human PP-, bombesin-, substance ?- and neurotensin-immunoreactive cells were found. VIP- and met-enkephalin were identified in nerve fib ers of the muscular layer. Using semithin-thin sections five types of endocrine cells (serotonin-, somatostatin-, gastrin/CCK-, glucagon- an d bombesin-immunoreactive cells) have been characterized according to their immunocytochemical reaction and the ultrastructure of the secret ory granules.