Identification, localization and morphology of APUD cells in gastroenteropancreatic system of stomach-containing teleosts

AIM To identify the type localization and morphology of APUD endocrine cells in the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) system of stomach-containing teleosts, and study APUD endocrine system in the stomach, intestine and pancreas of fish species. METHODS Two kinds of immunocytochemical (ICC) techniques of the streptavidin biotin-peroxidase complex (SABC) and streptavidin-peroxidase (S-P) method were used. The identification, localization and morphology of APUD endocrine cells scattered in the mucosa of digestive tract, intermuscular nerve plexus and glandular body of northern snakehead ( Channa argus), ricefield eel (Monopterus albus), yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), mandarinfish (Siniperca chuatsi), largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides), oriental sheatfish (Silurus asotus), freshwater pomfret (Colossoma brachypomum) and nile tilapia ( Tilapia nilotica) were investigated with 8 kinds of antisera. RESULTS The positive reaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) immunoreactive endocrine (IRE) cells was found in the digestive tract and glandular body of 8 fish species in different degree. Only a few gastrin (GAS)-IRE cells were seen in C, argus, M, albus and P, fulvidraco, Glucagon (GLU)-IRE cells were not found in the digestive tract and glandular body but existed in pancreatic island of most fish species. The positive reaction of growth hormone (GH)-IRE cells was found only in pancreatic island of S, Chuatsi and S, Asotus, no positive reaction in the other 6 fish species, Somatostatin ( SOM)-, calcitonin ( CAL)-, neurofilament (NF)- and insulin (INS)-IRE cells in the stomach, intestine and pancreas of S kinds of fish were different in distribution and types. The distribution of all 8 APUD cells was the most in gastrointestinal epithelium mucosa and then in digestive glands, The positive reaction of SOM- and 5-HT-IRE cells was found in intermuscular nerve plexus of intestine of P, fulvidraco and S. chuatsi, Only OR-IRE cells were densely scattered in the pancreatic islands of S, chuatsi and S, asotus, and odd distribution in the pancreas of S, asotus, SOM-IRE cells were distributed in the pancreatic islands of S, asotus, C. Brachypomum and T, nilotica, There were INS-IRE cells in the pancreatic islands of S, chuatsi and S, asolus, Eight kinds of APUD cells had longer cell body and cytoplasmic process when they were located in the gastrointestinal epithelium, and had shorter cell body and cytoplasmic process in the gastric gland, and irregular shape in the esophagus and pancreatic island. CONCLUSION Eight kinds of IRE cells were identified in the GEP system of stomach-containing teleosts, These endocrine cells were scattered in gastrointestinal mucosa, intermuscular nerve plexus, gland body, pancreatic gland and islands under APUD system. CAL- and OR-IRE cells In the pancreatic islands of fishes showed functional diversity for these two hormones. Their morphological feature provides evidence of endocrine-paracrine and endocrine-exocrine acting mode. This research can morphologically prove that the GEP endocrine system of fish (the lowest vertebrate) is almost the same as of mammal and human.