Abstract:
Histological, immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence methods were employed to study the intestine
and endocrine pancreas of the elephant. The histological findings were in line with those in
monogastric mammals. In the mucosa of intestine, endocrine cells were immunoreactive to somatostatin,
gastrin, CCK, GIP, secretin, motilin, glucagon and NPY. Nerve cells immunoreactive to somatostatin,
substance P, VIP, PHI, NPY, bombesin and CGRP were detected. No immunoreactivity to neurotensin
was observed. Islets of the pancreas had insulin cells in their cores and glucagon and somatostatin
cells in their mantles. The antisera employed failed to demonstrate PP cells in the pancreas, but NPY immunoreactive
cells were present.
