The intestine and endocrine pancreas of the African elephant: a histological, immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence study

VAN ASWEGEN, G., VAN NOORDEN, SUSAN, KOTZE, SA NET H., DEVOS, V. & SCHOEMAN, J.H. 1996. The intestine and endocrine pancreas of the African elephant: a histological, immunocytochemi­ cal and immunofluorescence study. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 63:335-340 Histological, immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence methods were employed to study the in­ testine and endocrine pancreas of the elephant. The histological findings were in line with those in monogastric mammals. In the mucosa of intestine, endocrine cells were immunoreactive to somatostatin, gastrin, CCK, GIP, secretin, motilin, glucagon and NPY. Nerve cells immunoreactive to somatostatin, substance P, VIP, PHI, NPY, bombesin and CGRP were detected. No immunoreactivity to neurotensin was observed. Islets of the pancreas had insulin cells in their cores and glucagon and somatostatin cells in their mantles. The antisera employed failed to demonstrate PP cells in the pancreas, but NPY­ immunoreactive cells were present.