Regional distribution of pancreatic polypeptide and other hormones in chicken pancreas: reciprocal relationship between pancreatic polypeptide and glucagon.

Tissue extracts of discrete lobes of chicken pancreas were assayed for pancreatic polypeptide (PP), glucagon, somatostatin (SRIF), and insulin by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of all pancreatic hormones except PP were highest in the splenic lobe. PP concentration was greatest in the inferior portions of the three major lobes. There is a reciprocal relationship between PP and glucagon concentration in chicken pancreas. The results with extracts were substantiated by cell frequency measurements using immunocytochemical methods.