APUD cells constitute a group of apparently unrelated endocrine cells, which were named by the scientist A.G.E. Pearse, who developed the APUD concept in the early 60's. These cells share the common function of secreting a low molecular weight polypeptide hormone. There are several different types which secrete the hormones secretin

Secretin

Secretin is a hormone that controls the secretions into the duodenum, and also separately, water homeostasis throughout the body. It is produced in the S cells of the duodenum in the crypts of Lieberkühn...

, cholecystokinin

Cholecystokinin

Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone of the gastrointestinal system responsible for stimulating the digestion of fat and protein...

 and several others. The name is derived from an acronym, referring to the following:

• Amine - for high amine
  Amine
  Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...
  
   content.
• Precursor Uptake - for high uptake of (amine) precursors.
• Decarboxylase - for high content of the enzyme
  Enzyme
  Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
  
   amino acid decarboxylase (for conversion of precursors to amines).

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