IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF SOMATOSTATIN-CONTAINING CELLS IN THE INTESTINAL-TRACT - COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical technique, intestinal tissues of the rat, Japanese quail, lizard, mudsucker, and Pacific hagfish were examined to evaluate the phylogenetic distribution of somatostatin-like immunoreactive cells. Somatostatinpositive cells were observed in the intestinal tract of the rat, quail, and lizard, whereas positive staining was not observed in the gut of the mudsucker or Pacific hagfish. Since somatostatin may play a role in digestive physiology of mammals, these results suggest that this polypeptide might also affect the intestinal function of birds and reptiles. The absence of somatostatin-containing cells in the intestinal tract of teleost and cyclostomes may indicate that this hormone does not have a role in digestive physiology of these forms. © 1979.