Regional distribution and concentration of pancreatic polypeptide in the human and canine pancreas

Abstract

The regional concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide (PP), insulin, and glucagon and the cellular distribution of PP were studied in 13 human and nine canine pancreases by radioimmunoassay, immunoperoxidase localization, and cell quantitation. PP concentration was highest in both the uncinate process and the head of the human pancreas and in the right lobe of the canine pancreas. In contrast, glucagon and insulin levels were higher in the body and tail of both the human and canine pancreases. Human F-cells, which contain PP, were located primarily at the periphery of the islets, although a few F-cells were scattered throughout the ducts and acini. Canine F-cells were located in ducts, acini, and islets; the relative proportion of canine F-cells in the endocrine and exocrine tissues differed according to location. Cellular quantitation of F-cells in both species correlated significantly with the tissue concentration of PP in all regions studied, validating the use of morphometric techniques to quantitate the regional distribution of PP.