Immunoreactive pancreatic polypeptide (PP) occurs in the central and peripheral nervous system: Preliminary immunocytochemical observations

Abstract

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is a candidate hormone of unknown physiological significance. It is produced by a population of endocrine cells in the pancreas. In the present study a PP-like peptide was found to occur in the mammalian and avian central and peripheral nervous systems. Immunoreactive nerve fibres and nerve cell bodies were widely distributed in the brain. Dense accumulations of nerve fibres occurred in the following areas: nucleus accumbens, interstitial nucleus of the stria terminalis, para- and periventricular hypothalamic nuclei, and medial preoptic area. In addition, nerve fibres were regularly seen in cortical areas. Immunoreactive perikarya were observed in the following regions: cortex, nucleus accumbens, neostriatum and septum. In the gut, immunoreactive nerve fibers were distributed in the myenteric plexus, in smooth muscle, around blood vessels, and in the core of the villi. Immunoreactive perikarya occurred in the submucosal and myenteric plexus, suggesting that PP immunoreactive nerves are intrinsic to the gut. In the species examined, the neuronal PP-like peptide could be demonstrated with an antiserum raised against avian PP, but not with those raised against bovine or human PP. Thus, neuronal PP is distinct from the PP that occurs in pancreatic endocrine cells.