Immunocytochemical localization of a novel pituitary polypeptide "7B2" in the gastro-intestinal tract of the rat.

Immunoreactivity to the polypeptide designated "7B2" recently isolated from human and porcine pituitary glands, appears to be consistently confined to neuroendocrine and endocrine cells in various tissues. In rat gut, immunoreactive 7B2 was found in endocrine-paracrine cells. Highly labeled cells were found in the antrum of the stomach and, cells with lower concentrations, in the fundus, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Except for a few cells which were simultaneously positive for 5-hydroxytryptamine, and a few others showing Grimelius's reaction, "7B2" cells do not exhibit argentaffin and/or argyrophil character. The 7B2 polypeptide seems to be distributed amongst several different types of endocrine cells in the gut.