Ultrastructural identification of somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in the pyloric glands of the ruin lizard (Podarcis sicula campestris De Betta) by immunogold staining.

The pyloric glands of a reptile, the ruin lizard (Podarcis sicula campestris De Betta), have been examined by immunocytochemistry and by transmission electron microscopy. There are four main ultrastructural types of enteroendocrine cells whose secretory granules showed similarities to mammalian EC cells (type I), D1 or ECL cells (type II), G cells (type III), and D cells (type IV). Immunogold staining identified and characterized the type IV cells as the somatostatin-storing cells. They were of the open type, with round or ovoid immunoreactive granules of varying electron density.