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Isolation, Culture, and Imaging of Human Fetal Pancreatic Cell Clusters
08:09

Isolation, Culture, and Imaging of Human Fetal Pancreatic Cell Clusters

Published on: May 18, 2014

Co-localization of neuroendocrine hormones in the human fetal pancreas

G M Portela-Gomes1, H Johansson, L Olding

  • 1Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

European Journal of Endocrinology
|November 27, 1999
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals distinct hormone co-localization patterns in the developing human fetal pancreas, identifying two main groups: insulin with islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and glucagon, and glucagon with secretin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY).

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The endocrine pancreas produces hormones regulating glucose metabolism.
  • Understanding hormone co-localization is crucial for comprehending pancreatic islet development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the co-localization of major pancreatic hormones and other peptides in the human fetal endocrine pancreas.
  • To identify patterns of hormone co-expression during early gestation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized double and triple immunofluorescence staining techniques.
  • Examined pancreatic tissue from human fetuses at 16, 18, and 22 weeks of gestation.

Main Results:

  • Identified cells expressing insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), secretin, and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY).
  • Observed co-localization of two hormones in most endocrine cell types, with three hormones co-expressed in fewer cells, particularly in the youngest fetus.
  • Found two distinct co-localization patterns: insulin with IAPP and glucagon; and secretin and PYY with glucagon and PP.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first description of secretin and neurotensin expression in the fetal pancreas.
  • Established two primary co-localization patterns within the developing human pancreatic islets.
Abstract

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