The Use of Chromogranin, Synaptophysin and Islet Amyloid Polypeptide as Markers for Neuroendocrine amours

Abstract

The diffuse neuroendocrine (NE) system consists of peptide hormone producing cells in different locations throughout the body (125). Usually, the cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary, the thyroid C-cells, the parathyroid glands, the adrenal medulla. the islets of Langerhans and the hormone producing cells in the gastrointestinal tract are included in the NE system. A common feature for all these tissues and cells is their ability to secrete bioactive amines. Based on these observations, thc amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) concept was introduced (120). IIe suggested that the NE cells were derived from cells in the neural crest which probably migrated to their final position during mbryogenesis. IIowever, there has been some debate about this concept, which has led to a re-definition of the subject. All APUD cells are peptide hormone producing cells, derived from specialised ectoderm and programmed for ultimate NE function (121).