[The Leu 7+ cell population of the human pancreas: preferential distribution and morphology].

Anti-Leu 7 is a monoclonal antibody which recognizes an antigenic determinant present on the surface of a subset of human large granular lymphocytes and on central and peripheral neural elements. Furthermore it cross-reacts with an intracellular protein of secretory granule matrix in neuroendocrine cells. The presence of Leu 7+ cells has been studied in lymphoid and non-hemopoietic organs. We have analyzed the Leu 7 positivity in six pancreata from cadaver donors by means of immunocytochemical methods. Leu 7+ cells were found to be also present in the exocrine portion of the organ in which they represent a nonhomogeneous cellular population. In fact, two different types of Leu 7+ elements populate the exocrine pancreas: a, Leu 7+ cells showing an intracellular granule positivity; b, Leu 7+ cells showing surface positivity. The endocrine pancreas, in contrast, contains the majority (85%) of Leu 7+ elements, belonging to the intracellular positive type only.