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Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural identification of the pancreatic polypeptide-producing cell (PP-Cell) in the human pancreas

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Summary

The consecutive semithin — thin section method was employed to identify pancreatic-polypeptide-containing cells in the human pancreas. The immunocytochemical staining of semithin sections with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex allowed a precise ultrastructural description of the immunoreactive cells on the adjacent thin section. Two populations of small granulated cells could be distinguished with this technique: one group is formed by cells whose secretory granules with a mean diameter of 141 nm show specific immunoperoxidase staining with anti-PP serum, while the other group consists of cells whose secretory granules measuring 118 nm in diameter show no immunoreactivity to anti-PP serum. The former cells which will be designated as PP-cells, are not identical with the D1-cells of the revised Wiesbaden classification of endocrine cells.

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This investigation was supported by the “Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Geneeskundig onderzoek”, Contract 20.468 (1977)

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Baetens, D., De Mey, J. & Gepts, W. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural identification of the pancreatic polypeptide-producing cell (PP-Cell) in the human pancreas. Cell Tissue Res. 185, 239–246 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220668

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