An Immunohistochemical Study on the Gastrin-, Somatostatin- and Serotonin-Releasing Cells in the Gastrointestinal System of Adult Quails

In this research, we aimed to determine the mucosal localisation and frequency of immune positive cells of gastrin (G cells), somatostatin (D cells) and serotonin (EC cells) in gastrointestinal tract of adult quails using immunohisto-chemical staining methods. For this purpose, proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum and ileum of 10 healthy adult quails were used as materials. Tissue sections taken were stained immunohistochemically by streptavidin biotin peroxidase method. Gastrin- and serotonin-immunopositive cells were determined to be abundant in small intestines, as compared to those of proventriculus and gizzard. However, somatostatin immunopositive cells were observed in a few numbers in stomach and all segments of small intestines. Moreover, the G, D and EC cells were also demonstrated usually to be in closed type in the proventriculus and gizzard, but in both open and closed types in all segments of small intestines. As a result, the G, D and EC cells were determined in varying numbers in the proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum and ileum of the quails. Also, the G and EC cells were observed numerously in the mucosal membranes of duodenum and ileum, as compared to that of D cells.