Immunohistochemical study of gastroenteropancreatic endocrine cells of the herbivorous Japanese field vole, Microtus montebelli.

The gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) endocrine cells of the Japanese field vole were studied immunohistochemically. Somatostatin-, 5-hydroxytryptamine-, glicentin-, glucagon-, bovine pancreatic polypeptide-, gastrin-, gastric inhibitory polypeptide-, cholecystokinin-, substance P-, secretin-, neurotensin- and insulin-immunoreactive cells were revealed. The characteristic findings of the regional distribution and relative frequency of these immunoreactive cells in the GEP system of the vole were as follows. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were more numerous in the oxyntic glands than in the pyloric glands. Some somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were found in small clusters in the oxyntic glands. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were detected not only in the pyloric glands and small intestine but also in the caecum and spiral colon. Gastric inhibitory polypeptide-immunoreactive cells were also detected in the pyloric glands and no motilin-immunoreactive cell was found in the gastroenteropancreatic system.