Apelin cells in the rat stomach
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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Enhanced Spatial Mapping of Mouse Gastric Muscle Layers Using a Modified Swiss Roll Technique
Published on: November 25, 2025
Etsuko Susaki1, Guiyun Wang, Gan Cao
1Department of Histology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
Abstract:
Apelin is a recently discovered peptide that is the endogenous ligand for the APJ receptor. Apelin is produced in the central nervous system, heart, lung, mammary gland and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim of this study was to identify by immunohistochemistry (IHC) cell types in the rat stomach that produce apelin peptide. IHC revealed abundant apelin-positive cells, primarily in the neck and upper base regions of the gastric glands in the mucosal epithelium. Apelin is not detected in the muscle layer. Apelin-positive cells were identified as mucous neck, parietal cells, and chief cells. Apelin is also identified in gastric epithelial cells that produce chromogranin A (CGA), a marker of enteroendocrine cells. The findings that apelin is expressed in gastric exocrine and endocrine cells agrees with and extends other data showing that apelin peptide is measurable in the gut lumen and in the systemic circulation by immunoassay.
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