Development of intestinal regulatory peptides in the human fetus.

The time of first appearance and subsequent development of eight regulatory peptides in the small and large intestine of human fetuses has been investigated. Gastrin, secretin, motilin, gastric inhibitory peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, enteroglucagon, and somatostatin were first detected as early as 8 wk of age, while neurotensin was only demonstrated at 12 wk. Adult patterns of distribution were established by 20 wk of age. Of the peptides examined only vasoactive intestinal peptide was localized to nerve fibers and these were seen clearly in the myenteric plexus at the 12-wk fetal stage and in the later fetuses in both the enteric plexuses. The concentrations of regulatory peptides increased steadily until term when they were close to adult levels. Secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide showed only a single molecular size species by gel permeation chromatography but the other peptides showed multiple peaks, the ratios tending to change through the gestational period in favor of the smaller molecular sized moieties. Thus the regulatory peptide system of the gut is present in th early fetus and its role in the process of maturation requires investigation.