Abstract:

To clarify the morphological features and region distribution of the endocrine cells in the digestive tract of the Lacerta vivipara. The localization and morphology of endocrine cells in the digestive tract of Lacerta vivipara were studied with gastrin (Gas), Glucagon (Glu), pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and substance P-(SP) four kinds of specific antisera. Immunohistochemical ABC method (avidin-biotin compex method) was used to reveal the law and characters of endocrine cells in the digestive tract. The results showed that Gas cells located in the cardia, pylorus and small intestine, with the highest density in the duodenum, followed by the cardia. Glu cells were mainly in the pylorus and the anterior small intestine, the back of the small intestine occasionally, and the pylorus’s distribution of density was significantly higher than any other parts. PP cells were detected in the pylorus, duodenum and ileum, with the largest distribution in the duodenum. SP cells were only found in the pylorus. The four kinds of endocrine cells were mainly in the shape of round and cone-shaped, which widely lay between epithelial cells, between glandular epithelial cells and at the bottom of epithelia. The characters of the distribution of the endocrine cells might be related to the feeding habits, the food composition and the living environment.