Differences in hormone localisation patterns of K and L type enteroendocrine cells in the mouse and pig small intestine and colon

Cell Tissue Res. 2015 Feb;359(2):693-698. doi: 10.1007/s00441-014-2033-3. Epub 2014 Nov 7.

Abstract

This study has investigated the patterns of colocalisation of the conventional K cell marker, glucagon-like insulinotropic peptide (GIP), and the L cell markers, glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), in enteroendocrine cells (EEC) of the small intestine and colon of mouse and pig. All combinations of the hormones, 3 in a cell, 2 in a cell and 1 at a time, were encountered. In both species, the three most common EEC types contained (1) both GLP-1 and PYY but not GIP, (2) GLP-1 alone or (3) GIP plus GLP-1 without PYY. Few GIP plus PYY cells and rare cells containing all 3 hormones were encountered. Gradients of cell types occurred along the intestine. For example, in mouse, there were no PYY cells in the duodenum and few in the jejunum, but >50% of labelled EEC in the distal ileum and colon were PYY immunoreactive. By contrast, over 40% of EEC in the pig duodenum contained PYY, and most also contained either GLP-1 or GIP. The gradient in pig was less pronounced. It is concluded that the traditional classification of K and L cells requires revision, and that there are major inter-species differences in the patterns of colocalisation of hormones that have been used to characterise K and L cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colon / cytology*
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Enteroendocrine Cells / cytology*
  • Enteroendocrine Cells / metabolism
  • Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / metabolism
  • Hormones / metabolism*
  • Intestine, Small / cytology*
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Peptide YY / metabolism
  • Sus scrofa

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Peptide YY
  • Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1