APUD system

APUD system

Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation system. A morphologic and functional subgroup of the endocrine system, encompassing: the C cells of the thyroid and ultimobranchial body; type-I cells of the carotid body and paraganglia; norepinephrine and epinephrine-producing cells of the adrenal medulla; melanoblasts; and the pineal gland and posterior pituitary cells. APUD cells take up tryptophan, converting it to 5-HT (serotonin), which is converted to mono-amine oxidase (MAO) 5HIAA.
 
APUD tissue is visualised with silver stains (Fontana-Masson), an argentaffin stain, or Bodian, an argyrophilic stain; bichromate; diazo salts; formaldehyde-induced autofluorescence; immunoperoxidase; and EM (Dense-core neurosecretory granules).

The term APUD system is little used in the working parlance and has been replaced by neuroendocrine system.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

APUD system

Amine Precursor Uptake & Decarboxylation system A morphologic and functional subgroup of the endocrine system, encompassing the C cells of the thyroid and ultimobranchial body, type I cells of the carotid body and paraganglia, norepinephrine and epinephrine-producing cells of the adrenal medulla, melanoblasts, pineal gland, and posterior pituitary cells: APUD cells take up tryptophan, convert it to 5-HT–serotonin, which is converted to MAO, 5HIAA

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.