Chemical coding of endocrine cells of the airways : presence of helodermin-like peptides

• Published in: Cell and tissue research 1991-09, Vol.265 (3), p.425-433
• Main Authors: LUTS, A, UDDMAN, R, ABSOOD, A, HAKANSON, R, SUNDLER, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air breathing; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Calcitonin - analysis; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - analysis; Cricetinae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Guinea Pigs; Larynx - cytology; Lung - cytology; Mesocricetus; Mice; Neuropeptides - analysis; Peptides - analysis; Rats; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Saimiri; Serotonin - analysis; Sheep; Species Specificity; Swine; Trachea - cytology; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 0302-766X; 1432-0878
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00340865

The epithelium of the airways is rich in endocrine cells containing serotonin and/or a wide variety of regulatory peptides. These cells usually occur in clusters in the lungs but are also found scattered in the larynx and trachea. In the present study, endocrine cells in the airways of mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, pig, sheep and squirrel monkey were examined for the presence of serotonin, helodermin-like peptides and other regulatory peptides using immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. In addition, we looked for the protein gene product 9.5 (PGP), which occurs in many peptide hormone-producing endocrine cells in the body. Both clustered and scattered endocrine cells in the airways were found to display coexistence of serotonin and peptides, such as a helodermin-like peptide, calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The PGP-immunoreactive cells were numerous and included elements containing serotonin and/or regulatory peptides. An additional PGP-immunoreactive endocrine cell population lacked serotonin and regulatory peptides. Helodermin-immunoreactive material was demonstrated in endocrine cells of the airways in the mouse and hamster but not in any of the other species studied. Serotonin was an endocrine cell constituent in all the species studied. Calcitonin and CGRP could be demonstrated by immunocytochemistry in the mouse, rat, and hamster, but not in the guinea pig, sheep, pig and monkey.