Enteroendocrine Specification in Drosophila and Vertebrates

The intestine represents the largest endocrine organ in the human body. Scattered throughout the human gut are cells, known as enteroendocrine cells, which secrete hormones involved in regulation of various physiological processes such as digestion, intestinal motility, and glucose metabolism. The Drosophila adult intestine, like that of vertebrates, contains enteroendocrine cells. These cells can be distinguished by staining with antibodies to the various hormones that they secrete.