Distribution of gastrin and CCK cells in the rat gastrointestinal tract. Evidence for the occurrence of three distinct cell types storing COOH-terminal gastrin immunoreactivity.

Gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCH) cells of the rat gastrointestinal tract have been studied by immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoanalysis. With antisera directed against the COOH-terminal tetrapeptide sequence, which is common to gastrin and CCK, three distinct endocrine cell types are detected. One of the cell types predominates in the antrum, is scarce in the rest of the gut and corresponds to the gastrin cell. The second cell type is virtually confined to the duodenum and jejunum and corresponds to the CCK cell. The third cell type occurs disseminated in the small intestines, predominates in the ileum, and reacts with COOH-terminus-specific antisera only following diethylpyrocarbonate and not following formaldehyde fixation. It is possible that the third cell type stores a third member of the gastrin-CCK family of gut hormones.