Distribution of N-cadherin and NCAM in neurons and endocrine cells of the human embryonic and fetal gastroenteropancreatic system.

For the first time, the distribution of N-cadherin and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) as well as some neuropeptides in nerve cells and endocrine cells of the human embryonic and fetal gastroenteropancreatic system has been detected in early stages (from the 6th postovulatory week onwards). Epithelial cells of the stomach and small intestine contained gastrin and somatostatin and the epithelium of the small intestine also bombesin-positive cells. Myenteric ganglionic cells showed both bombesin and VIP and were NCAM- and N-cadherin-positive at all ages studied.