Distribution, ontogeny and ultrastructure of the mammalian secretin cell

Immunocytochemically, secretin cells have been demonstrated to occur in the duodenum and jejunum of several mammals. Calculations on the relative frequency of such cells indicate that the bulk of secretin occurs in the jejunum, a fact supporting the view that secretin may be released by physiological stimulants other than hydrochloric acid. Electron microscopical identification of cat and pig secretin cells confirmed their identity with the ultrastructurally defined S cells, and staining experiments revealed that secretin cells were argyrophilic both with the method of Grimelius and with that of Hellerström and Hellman. Secretin cells are detected already in the 17-day old fetal rat duodenum and show a developmental pattern similar to that displayed by the gastrin cells. It is suggested that secretin may play a role in the early regulation of growth of the fetal gastrointestinal tract.