Amylin in human pancreatic islets.

AIMS: Double and triple immunocytochemical staining was used to co-localise amylin with four pancreatic hormones, including insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide.

METHODS

Normal human adult islets were initially stained for amylin using the avidin-biotin alkaline phosphatase method. The stained sections were subsequently stained for four pancreatic hormones, respectively, with the immunoperoxidase method.

RESULTS

The same islet cells that were positively stained for amylin, were also positively stained for insulin, and were positively stained for glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide in lesser cell numbers.

CONCLUSIONS

Amylin is known to co-secrete and is co-localised with insulin and three other islet hormones are co-localised with amylin. This co-localisation of amylin with all four pancreatic hormones may support a role for amylin in secretory processes of these hormones.