Distribution and frequency of gastrin cells in the digestive tract of the Japanese quail.

The gastrin cells of the Japanese quail were studied histologically and immunocytochemically. Cells reacting with antiserum to gastrin (gastrin cells) were demonstrated by the peroxidase-labelled antibody method and showed brownish cytoplasm. They also were stained argyrophil by the Grimelius' silver method. Gastrin cells were found in the epithelium of the pyloric region and small intestine and not in any other regions. They were the most numerous in the pyloric region (382.14 +/- 12.77/1.25mm2), next in the ileum (3.79 +/- 1.24/1.25mm2) and duodenum (2.93 +/- 0.62/1.25mm2), and the least in the jejunum (0.93 +/- 0.62/1.25mm2). Remarkable concentration of gastrin cells in the pyloric region has thus been demonstrated.