Neurotensin--positive and somatostatin--positive cells in the canine gut.

By using immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence techniques, the localization of neurotensin-positive cells and somatostatin-positive cells in the canine gut was examined on the same sections. Neurotensin-positive cells were found only in the jejunum and ileum, while somatostatin-positive cells were distributed throughout the stomach and all parts of the small intestine. These two types of cell in the jejunum and the ileum had no direct cellular contact with each other. Based on the hypothesis that somatostatin may inhibit the release of some peptide hormones through junctional complexes of cells, the possibility of functional interaction between neurotensin and somatostatin was discussed.