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[Mast and enterochromaffin-like cells of the gastric mucosa].

An attempt has been made to reveal simultaneously both mast and ECL cells in the fundic mucosa of some laboratory animals and man. In Bouin fluid fixed specimens, toluidine blue pH 5.0 and alcian blue pH 1.0 failed to reveal mucosal mast cells in rats and mice only. In those animals mucosal mast cells became demonstrable in Carnoy fluid fixed tissues after staining with alcian blue pH 1.0. A double staining technique has been applied using Grimelius silver method followed by staining either with toluidine blue after acid hydrolysis or with alcian blue. Both mast and ECL cells became visible showing here and there their close arrangement. The latter might be a point for some functional relations between both cell types.

Animals↗

Effects of antrectomy or porta-caval shunting on the histamine-storing endocrine-like cells in oxyntic mucosa of rat stomach. A fluorescence histochemical, electron microscopic and chemical study.

1. The argyrophil (enterochromaffin-like) cells in the oxyntic gland area of the rat stomach contain histamine, which can be demonstrated fluorescence microscopically after exposure to gaseous OPT. After administration of L-dopa (or L-5-hydroxytryptophan), these cells produce and temporarily store dopamine (or 5-hydroxytryptamine), demonstrable by its characteristic formaldehyde-induced fluorescence. Ultrastructurally, the enterochromaffin-like cells, which have the appearance of polypeptide hormone-secreting cells, comprise two main cell types, the most predominant one having vesicular type granules (EGL cells), the second most predominant one having smaller, uniformly electron dense granules (A-like cells). 2. Rats were subjected to the following surgical treatments: antrectomy; porta-caval shunting; antrectomy+porta-caval shunting; or sham-operation. Three to eight weeks after surgery the histamine-storing cells (enterochromaffin-like cells) of the oxyntic mucosa were analysed by fluorescence histochemistry, light and (quantitative) electron microscopy, and fluorometric determination of amines. 3. After antrectomy, fluorescence histochemistry and silver staining revealed a reduced number of enterochromaffin-like cells. The histamine content in the oxyntic mucosa was reduced by about 50%. As in unoperated injection of pentagastrin seemed to mobilize histamine. Feeding or injection of insulin failed to do so in antrectomized as opposed to control rats. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasmic granules of both endocrine-like cell types were less numerous than in the unoperated rats. The reduction in cell number and granularity was particularly conspicuous with regard to the EGL cells. 4. After porta-caval shunting the number of enterochromaffin-like cells increased markedly. Chemical determination revealed a twofold increase in the histamine concentration of the oxyntic mucosa. Feeding or injection of insulin or pentagastrin lowered the histamine concentration. As judged by electron microscopy, the proliferation of endocrine-like cells induced by porta-caval shunting was restricted to the ECL cell type. Besides occurring in greater number, these cells were larger than those in unoperated controls, and their cytoplasm was densely packed with granules that were increased in size. 5. Following antrectomy of the porta-caval shunted rats the number of enterochromaffin-like cells and the oxyntic histamine concentration was reduced. 6. The results support the idea that gastrin exerts trophic as well as excitatory effects on oxyntic endocrine-like cells.

Animals↗

An electron microscopic study of intestinal metaplasia in human gallbladder.

Areas of intestinal metaplastic epithelium in gallbladders removed by cholecystectomies performed for gallstones were studied with the electron microscope. Three gallbladders contained areas of goblet cells and endocrine enterochromaffin-like cells and one gallbladder also Paneth cells. The goblet cells contained mucin granules of slightly variable size and shape and relatively great electron lucency. The intervening columnar epithelial cells contained various amounts of electron-lucent mucin granules. The round or oval enterochromaffin-like cells rested on the basement membrane, and in these cells the small, round, electron-opaque secretory granules were located in the infranuclear region. The supranuclear cytoplasm of the Paneth cells in the intestinalized epithelium contained typical large, round secretory granules. The fine structures of the various cells in the metaplastic epithelium bore resemblance to those of the cells in the intestinalized stomach mucosa.

Basement Membrane↗

Differentiation of two types of endocrine cells which take up amine precursors using their capacity to take up the fluorescent dihydroisoquinoline derivative of dopamine.

A study was made of the accumulation of the strongly fluorescent 2-carboxymethyl-6,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium compound (2-Carb. Me-DIQ) derived from the condensation reaction of dopamine with glyoxylic acid in endocrine cells possessing the capacity to take up and store biogenic monoamine precursors. Thin-layer chromatographic studies of urine showed that 2-Carb. Me-DIQ was metabolized into two strongly fluorescent metabolites, possessing at least one hydroxyl group in the phenol moiety of the molecule, which were excreted in urine together with the parent compound. Histochemical observations, however, indicated that the tissue fluorescence showing maximal emission at 480 nm was due to 2-Carb. Me-DIQ. Generally, the injection of 2-Carb. Me-DIQ induced a strong fluorescence in those tissue components possessing the extraneuronal uptake mechanism of catecholamines. In the endocrine cells strong fluorescence was seen in the pineal glandular cells and in some cells of the pars distalis of the hypophysis, of which some cells also took up DL-5-HTP, as was seen following formaldehyde vapour treatment. No accumulation of 2-Carb. Me-DIQ was observed in the pancreatic islet cells, the C cells of the thyroid gland or the tracheal enterochromaffin-like cells. These findings lead to the conclusion that biogenic monoamines in the cells of the pars distalis of the hypophysis might use the phenolic moiety of the molecule to bind to some intracellular receptor. Thus, the pars distalis cells may have an intracellular binding mechanism for biogenic monoamines that is different from other endocrine cells showing the uptake and storage of biogenic monoamines. On the other hand, the findings gave further support to the suggestion that in the pancreatic islet cells, the thyroidal C cells and the tracheal enterochromaffin-like cells biogenic monoamines are stored by a mechanism in which the basic, positively charged amino group of biogenic monoamines is bound electrostatically to the anionic, negatively charged carboxyl group of a hormone storage granule. The pars distalis cells and the pineal glandular cells seemed to take up amines and amine derivatives in a similar manner. This suggests that in the pars distalis cells, too, biogenic monoamines have an active metabolism and possibly some regulative role in hormone synthesis and/or secretion.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

Influence of fasting and stimulation on the rat gastric endocrine cells. Histochemical and ultrastructural study.

The ultrastructure and certain cytochemical parameters of endocrine cells of the rat gastric mucosa during 168 h of fasting were investigated. To some of the fasting animals peroral food or alcohol was administered before decapitation. The EC (enterochromaffin cells) the ECL (enterochromaffin-like cells), D1 cells, AL (A-like cells) and G cells were identified by means of electron microscopy. Only the EC, ECL, and G cells could be identified by means of light microscopy by an adequate histochemical technique. The ultrastructural picture of the ECL and of the EC cells did not change markedly during the fasting. In the D1 cells there occurred an agglomeration of secretory granules. Some of them disintegrated and disappeared. In the AL cells an agglomeration of granules during the fasting was also observed. Granules engulfed in lysosomes were often found. The participation of lysosomes in the degradation of granules during the fasting was more marked in the AL cells than in the G cells. The participation of lysosomes was questionable in the EC and D1 cells, and in the ECL cells no lysosomes were observed. In contradistinction to the G cells of the non-fasting animals, where more than one half of the gastrin granules were "empty", the G cells during the fasting were filled with agglomerated dense granules and contained lysosomes with fragments of engulfed secretory granules. Following the administration of food (Larsen's diet) 3 h before sacrificing the dissolution of the content of granules with well preserved membranes was observed (emiocytosis did not take place). The administration of food did not lead to changes in the ultrastructural appearance of the EC cells. The peroral administration of alcohol did not lead to any changes in the ultrastructural appearance of the AL and G cells.

Animals↗

[Endocrine cells of the mucous membrane of the fundus region of the stomach of hibernating rodents].

The gastric mucous membrane was studied in the hibernating animal Citellus erythrogenys in different seasons (during 7-8 months a year the animal is in hibernation and its digestive tract is not functioning). During hibernation the general amount of enterochromaffin-like cells decreases and their composition changes: the number of active cells diminishes and that of less active cells grows. Such dynamics of cells suggests the participation of enterochromaffin-like cells of Citellus erythrogenys in the regulation of gastric secretion (in rats and mice these cells contain histamine stimulating the mucous membrane glands). The amount of true enterochromaffin cells is not sufficiently changed and they seem to be not directly related with digestion but to be producers of serotonin which (together with serotonin of the brain) takes part in sustaining the mechanisms of appearance and supporting of winter hibernation.

Animals↗

Spontaneous argyrophil cell carcinoid in the glandular stomach: immunohistochemical study of gastric endocrine cells in normal and tumour-bearing mastomys.

Endocrine tumours (argyrophil cell carcinoids) are frequent in the oxyntic mucosa of mastomys. The tumour is notable for its high histamine content and for its high histidine decarboxylase activity. The tumour is thought to arise from the histamine-storing, enterochromaffin-like cells of the oxyntic mucosa. They are of two ultrastructurally distinguishable types, ECL cells and A-like cells, both of which have been demonstrated in the tumour. Identical cells have been demonstrated in the oxyntic mucosa of the rat; there is much evidence that in this species the functional activity and the number of these cells are determined by the serum gastrin concentration. However, tumours have never been found to arise from these cells in the rat. As an initial step in an attempt to explain the formation of the gastric endocrine tumour in the mastomys we examined the distribution and frequency of occurrence of endocrine cells in the mastomys stomach. Gastrin cells in the antrum of mastomys seemed to occur in about the same frequency as in the antrum of rat and mouse. 5-HT-storing enterochromaffin cells, however, were considerably more numerous in the mastomys, whereas the somatostatin cells in the antrum were fewer. The number of enterochromaffin-like cells and somatostratin cells in the oxyntic mucosa of mastomys was much lower than in the rat and mouse. Once developed, the gastric endocrine tumour seems to reduce the antral gastrin cell number; the larger the tumour the greater the reduction.

Animals↗

Pathologic changes of endocrine cells in chronic atrophic gastritis. An ultrastructural study on peroral gastric biopsy specimens.

In the course of an ultrastructural study on peroral gastric biopsy specimens that were obtained from patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, peculiar pathological changes of endocrine cells were observed and correlated with functional and hormonal data on the patients. An increased number of G (gastrin) cells was found in hypergastrinemic patients. These cells could be divided into a "light" (probably hyperfunctioning) and a "dark" (probably exhausted) type. The light type of cell was prominent regardless of the concomitant gastrin blood levels. The G cells found within the fundic region were always localized within the areas of pyloric metaplasia. Focal micronodular proliferation of antral enterochromaffin cells (EC) was often seen. A proliferation of the closed type of endocrine cells of the fundic mucosa was observed only in patients with elevated gastrin concentrations. In the present study, these cells were identified as enterochromaffin-like cells (ECL). No substantial changes were found in the D and D1 cells. The endocrine cells seen in metaplastic intestinal epithelium exhibited ultrastruct characteristics of at least three different types of intestinal endocrine cells (EC, L, and S cells).

Adult↗

Ultrastructure of endocrine cells in metaplastic epithelium of human gall bladder.

Two endocrine cell types were found in the metaplastic epithelium of gall bladders removed for gall stones. The endocrine cell type I resembled the EC (enterochromaffin) cell of the normal stomach mucosa. The homogeneous and electron-dense secretory granules were variable in size and shape and mainly located in the sub-nuclear cytoplasm. The endocrine cell type II was similar to the ECL (enterochromaffin-like) cell of the human stomach. The secretory granules were almost exclusively present in a subnuclear location, and were round and homogeneous in size. The secretory material was slightly granular and often there was a clear zone (halo) between the granule core and the limiting membrane. A rich network of microfilaments in the cytoplasm, especially around the nucleus, was typical of the type II endocrine cell. Both cell types were closely related to the basement membrane and the capillaries underneath.

Cholelithiasis↗

Malignant acanthosis nigricans--a para-endocrine syndrome?

A case is reported of acanthosis nigricans associated with a gastric carcinoma. The gastric cancer was of the diffuse, infiltrating type. Many tumour cells were identified by means of histochemistry and electron microscopy as neoplastic enterochromaffin-like cells. It is suggested that cancers associated with acanthosis nigricans might constitute a certain group of carcinomas in which parts of the tumour cells arise from the APUD-series of endocrine cells.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗

Gland ultrastructure in human gall bladder.

The ultrastructure of two gland cell types in the chronically inflamed human gall bladder is described. The lumina of the glands in the neck region are wide and the gland cells are cuboidal in shape. The nuclei are round and relatively large and there are only a few secretory granules in the scanty cytoplasm. Glands elsewhere resemble those in the pyloric antrum of the stomach in their ultrastructure, and therefore the former may be called "antral type" glands. They contain abundant mucin granules in their cytoplasm and the Golgi apparatus is prominent. There are rather tall irregular microvilli on the apical cell surface and the nuclei are located close to the basal plasma membrane. Enterochromaffin-like cells are to be found in the antral type glands, but not in the glands of the neck region.

Cell Nucleus↗

Pernicious anaemia in association with argyrophil (Sevier-Munger) gastric carcinoid.

3 cases of pernicious anaemia in association with gastric carcinoid (in 1 case multiple) are described. All tumours were rich in argyrophil cells with the Sevier-Munger and Grimelius staining techniques, indicating that they might be of the enterochromaffin-like cell type. The possible causal relationship between pernicious anaemia and this type of argyrophil carcinoid is discussed.

Aged↗

[Endocrine cells of the gastric mucous membrane].

In order to obtain an additional information concerning a possible functional role of the main types of the endocrine cells (EC and ECL) on investigation of aspiration biopsy specimens taken from the middle third of the stomach in patients with ulcerative disease of the duodenum and chronic gastritis was carried out. Changes in morphology, distribution and number of the endocrine cells in pathology of the mucosa and in various acidity of the gastric juice were followed up. On the basis of the data obtained the conclusion is made that serotonin-producing (EC) cells seem to have nothing to do with the regulation of the activity of the fundal glands, whereas the enterochromaffin-like cells (ECL) influence the production of hydrochloric acid by pavement cells.

Chronic Disease↗

Imipramine-caused interference with levodopa absorption from the gastrointestinal tract in rats.

Rats treated for 3 or 30 days with imipramine (30 mg/kg) have impaired absorption of a single dose of 14C-levodopa. Treated animals retain larger amounts of radioactivity in their gastric lumen and this interfers with delivery of levodopa to intestinal absorptive sites. Tissues of treated animals have lower levels of radioactivity than controls and urinary excretion of radioactivity is also lessened. Imipramine does not interfere with uptake of levodopa by everted sacs of rat jejunum. Imipramine does, however, interfere with the transit of radioactivity through the gastrointestinal tract of rats, since treated animals have lower ileal radioactivity than controls. Lower relative concentration of levodopa metabolites in gastric fluid and tissue may reflect an interference of uptake of levodopa by gastric enterochromaffin-like cells.

Animals↗

[Demonstration of the argyrophil cells of the major glands in autopsy material].

A possibility of identifying endocrine argyrophil cells of the fundic glands of man by the method of impregnation with argentum after Grimelius in sectional material was studied. The cells detected by this method were found to be enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the autopsy material were not retained. Morphotopographic characteristics of ECL-cells in sectional material and bioptic specimens of the gastric mucosa were identical. One of the manifestations of post-mortem changes was adhesion of specific argyrophil granules contained in ECL-cells.

Chromaffin System↗

Electron microscopic radioautographic identification of the ECL cell as the histamine-synthesizing endocrine cell in the rat stomach.

Rat gastric oxyntic glands contain argyrophil "enterochromaffin-like" endocrine cells that synthesize and store histamine and also have APUD ability--they can take up exogenous L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), can decarboxylate it to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) by the enzyme DOPA-decarboxylase, and can store the amine. Previous cytochemical studies suggested that these cells correspond to both the ECL and A-like cells, the two predominant endocrine cells identified by electron microscopy (EM) in rat oxyntic glands. In a recent study, however, we demonstrated that the ECL but not the A-like cell exhibited APUD ability when rat gastric mucosa was incubated with H3-5-HTP and studied by EM radioautography. The purpose of the present study was to identify by EM radioautography the histamine-synthesizing endocrine cells in the rat stomach. Pieces of rat (male Sprague-Dawley) gastric mucosa were incubated in organ culture with L-H3-histidine (50 muCi, 1.8 x 10(-5) M) with and without inhibitors and were processed for LM and EM radioautography. H3-histidine labeled the ECL cells heavily but the A-like and other endocrine cells only lightly. The labeling of ECL cells was only modestly reduced by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, whereas the labeling of A-like and other endocrine cells was almost abolished. In contrast, the labeling of ECL cells was markedly reduced by 4-bromo-3-hydroxybenzyloxyamine (NSD-1055), an inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase and DOPA decarboxylase, but was not appreciably affected by carbidopa, an inhibitor of only the DOPA decarboxylase. Incubations with H3-histamine (50 muCi, 0.9 x 10(-5) M) failed to label endocrine cells. Thus, this study demonstrates that the ECL but not the A-like cell is the histamine-synthesizing endocrine cell of the rat stomach.

APUD Cells↗