An Immunohistochemical study on the endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the snakehead, Ophicephalus argus

가물치 위장관 내분비세포에 관한 면역조직학적 관찰

The regional distribution and relative frequency of occurrence of endocrine cells in nine segments of the gastrointestinal(GI) tract of snakehead(Ophicephalus argus) were investigated by immunohistochemical methods using specific antisera against 5- hydroxyptrytamine(5-HT), somatostatin, gastrin/cholecystokinin(GAS/CCK), glucagon, bovine chromogranin, porcine chromogranin and insulin. Four types of immunoreactive cells for 5-HT, somatostatin, GAS/CCK and glucagon were observed in the GI tract. These cells were generally appeared in the mucosal epithelia or located at the interface of the mucosal epithelial layer and intestinal glandular region. 5-HT-immunoreactive(IR) cells were found in segment II, III, IV, V and VI, and the most numerous in segment IV. Somatostatin-IR cells were found in segment II, III, IV and V, and the most numerous in segment III. GAS/CCK-IR cells in segment VI, VII and glucagon-IR cells in segment III, IV, V were detected but a few in these segments. No bovine chromogranin-, porcine chromogranin- and insulin-IR cells were detected throughout the GI tract of the snakehead.