Early appearance of pancreatic hormone-expressing cells in the zebrafish embryo.

摘要: Adult pancreatic islets comprise four cell types, α, β, δ and PP, expressing glucagon, insulin, somatostatin pancreatic-polypeptide, respectively, arising from lineages whose relationships during endocrine pancreas differentiation are still uncertain [ Edlund, 1998. Diabetes 47, 1817–1823]. As zebrafish (Danio rerio) represents an attractive vertebrate model to study mutants affecting organogenesis Pack et al., 1996. Development 123, 321–328], we have investigated the expression patterns of islet hormones in embryos, 16-somite (17 h) 48-h stages, by whole-mount situ hybridization immunofluorescence. Results showed that primordium (a) insulin is first hormone gene be expressed, (b) colocalizes with while glucagon-expressing cells, since their appearance, distinct insulin- or insulin/somatostatin-expressing cells. Notably, both but not expressed extrapancreatic regions.