Insulin cells are found in the main and accessory urinary bladders of the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta

Abstract

Insulin has been localized immunocytochemically to cells in the main and accessory urinary bladders of the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta, and represents an unusual addition to the specturm of regulatory peptides associated with the urinary bladder. These stellate to fibroblastoid cells often possess neural-like processes and are similar in morphology to neurotensin cells found in Chrysemys and Pseudemys urinary bladders. Radioimmunoassay of 2M acetic acid extracts of bladder tissue indicate that the insulin concentration of accessory bladder is several-fold greater than main bladder but considerably lower than the insulin content of pancreas. Pieces of accessory bladder incubated in vitro exhibit a stable insulin release into the medium over 1 hour, but release is unaltered by known insulin secretagogues. It is tempting to postulate an endocrine or paracrine regulatory function for these cells, but at present their role in Chrysemys bladder function remains unknown.