Neuroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of wild boar

The presence and the distribution of neuroendocrine cells in the gastrointe stinal tract of adult wild boar were investigated. The endocrine cells have been identified by means of immunocytochemical techniques using antibodies against serotonin, gastrin, somatostatin, cholecystokinin (CCK), met-enkep halin (MET-ENK), gastric-inhibitory peptide (GIP) and glucagon. The number of positive cells for each antiserum in each region was evaluated. Results were compared with data present in the literature and obtained previously b y us and other authors in swine and domestic mammals (Ceccarelli et al., 19 85, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1995; Capella and Solcia, 1972; Domeneghini and Casta ldo, 1981; Peranzi and Lehy, 1984; Krause et al., 1985).