Intercalated duct cells in the chicken pancreatic islet.

Intercalated duct cells are present in the alpha and beta islets of the chicken pancreas. The intercalated duct cells adhere to each other via intercellular junctional complexes at the apical side, projecting many microvilli and a few of cilia into the lumen. Abluminally, these cells extend slender cytoplasmic processes between islet endocrine cells. These intercalated duct cells appear to have a stellate form, and to wrap around endocrine cells with their cytoplasm. These observations suggest that intercalated ducts not only pass through the islet, but also play a role in supplying islet cells.