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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1975

Goblet cells, enterochromaffin cells, superficial gastric-type epithelium and antral-type glands in the gallbladder.

From a material derived from routine investigations, 40 gallbladder specimens were selected in which metaplastic cells had been observed. All the cholecystectomies were performed for gallstones. Of the patients 6 were male and 34 female. The mean age was 51.2 years. 36 specimens revealed goblet cells, enterochromaffin cells were found in 22, antral-type (pseudopyloric) glands in 23 and islands of gastric surface epithelium in 15 specimens. Histochemical methods to visualize sulphated, non-sulphated acid and neutral mucins were used. Ordinary gallbladder epithelium showed a predominance of sulphated mucosubstance. Sporadic goblet cells usually occurred in so-called goblet cell areas which, if small, were located in the tops of folds and only when larger also in the deeper parts of folds. As the goblet cell area enlarged, the relative proportion of sulphated mucin diminished and correspondingly non-sulphated acid mucin increased, while neutral mucin was noted both in the goblet cells and in the intervening columnar cells. In 20 specimens there were enterochromaffin cells in the goblet cell areas while only 2 specimens revealed enterochromaffin cells outside the goblet cell area. The glands outside the neck region of the gallbladder resembled gastric antral glands in their general architecture and in the appearance of individual cells. A part from frequent enterochromaffin cells (in 12 specimens) the glands are composed of mucous cells. The glandular cells contained sulphated mucin, non-sulphated acid and neutral mucin chiefly in the peripheral parts of glandular cells. In the gallbladders there were numerous abnormalities in some areas: heavy mucous secretion, goblet cells, enterochromaffin cells and superficial gastric-type epithelial spots were seen chiefly in the upper parts of folds, while proliferation of antral-type glands occurred in the basal parts. It is probable that some common pathological factors are responsible for the frequent simultaneous appearance of different types of metaplasia.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A simple and economical modification of the Masson-Fontana method for staining melanin granules and enterochromaffin cells.

Enterochromaffin cells from the small intestine of man, guinea pig, dog, chicken, rabbit, cat and rat were stained using the Masson-Fontana ammoniacal silver method with varying dilutions of silver nitrate solution (0.25 to 5 g per 100 ml of distilled water) and incubation temperatures (60 C and 75 C). The 0.5% solution of silver nitrate gave an argentaffin pattern similar to that of the 5% solution and had two major advantages: economically, since much less silver nitrate is used, and methodologically, since low background resulted with tissue of those species (rat, cat and rabbit) that required unusually long incubation. The staining of melanocytes was similar for all dilutions at the usual staining time (15-30 min).

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine in gastric enterochromaffin cells.

Enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the gastrointestinal tract are known to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). The probable ultrastructural localization of 5HT in the dense core vesicles ( DCVs ) of EC cells is based on the use of histochemical techniques, such as argentaffinity and the potassium dichromate reaction. In the present paper we describe an immunocytochemical method for specifically localizing 5HT in EC cells by electron microscopy. Pieces of mucosa from the pyloric region of the rabbit stomach were prepared for electron microscopy by fixation in 0.5% glutaraldehyde-picric acid-formaldehyde without osmication , and then embedded in LX-112. Thick sections (1 micron) were mounted on glass slides and processed for the fluorescence immunocytochemical localization of 5HT. Thin sections (60-90 nm) were mounted on formvar-coated slot grids and processed for the ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of 5HT. Both the thick and thin sections were processed by an identical procedure, beginning with a 30-min incubation in anti-5HT antiserum diluted 1:1400, followed by an IgG-FITC-gold-labeled second antibody. Fluorescent EC cells were consistently observed in the thick sections of gastric mucosa. By carefully trimming and sectioning the adjacent block face, the identical EC cell could be identified by electron microscopy. A quantitative analysis revealed the number of gold particles in EC cells to be significantly greater over the cores of DCVs than over the non-core cytoplasm or over the nucleus. Absorption of the primary antiserum with 5HT abolished all labeling, while absorption with a 5HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan, did not significantly reduce core labeling. Non-EC epithelial cells were not labeled. These results demonstrate that immunoreactive 5HT in EC cells is stored in the cores of DCVs .

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Overexpression of keratinocyte growth factor in cancer cells and enterochromaffin cells in human colorectal cancer.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a mitogenic polypeptide that is mainly synthesized by mesenchymal cells. Its actions are dependent on its binding to a specific cell-surface KGF receptor (KGFR), which is localized in epithelial cells. In the present study, the expression level of KGF and KGFR messenger RNA (mRNA), and the localization of these mRNA and proteins in tumor specimens obtained from 12 human colorectal cancer cases were estimated. Competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the expression of KGF and KGFR mRNA in both colorectal cancer and normal colorectal tissues. In specimens from 10 of the 12 cancer cases, the KGF mRNA level was higher in the specimens obtained from the cancerous portions than in those obtained from non-cancerous tissues of the same cases. KGFR mRNA was higher in cancerous tissues in eight of 12 cases. To localize the KGF protein in normal and cancerous human colorectal tissues, immunohistochemistry was employed. In normal colorectal tissue, faint KGF immunoreactivity was present in a few fibroblasts. In contrast, strong KGF immunoreactivity was present in many of the neuroendocrine cells present in close proximity to cancer cells, and moderate immunoreactivity was recognized in the cancer cells themselves and adjacent fibroblasts. KGF-positive neuroendocrine cells also showed serotonin immunoreactivity, indicating that they were enterochromaffin cells. By in situ hybridization, both KGF and KGFR mRNA were co-overexpressed in these colorectal cancer cells, and KGF mRNA was recognized in neuroendocrine cells lying in close proximity to the cancer cells. These findings indicate the possibility that KGF acts in both a paracrine and autocrine manner to induce colorectal cancer cell growth in vivo.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Experimental studies of effects of acupuncture on enterochromaffin cells: guinea pig enterochromaffin cell count after electro-acupuncture.

Guinea pig acupuncture points located on the back of the animal, cranial and caudal to the last rib in the muscular groove between longissimus dorsi and iliocostalis, were treated by electro-acupuncture (EA). In the duodenum, when compared with the control, the EA-treated group showed a significant decrease of its enterochromaffin (EC) cell count. However, the sham-treated group also had a lower EC cell count compared to the control. Decreased EC counts were also observed in the jejunum and colon in both EA and sham treated groups; however, they were not significant except in the sham-treated colon. The present study demonstrated that in the normal guinea pigs electro-acupuncture on certain points tends to cause a decrease of the EC cell count in some parts of the gut; however, such results cannot be completely attributed to the effect of acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2006

A new method for visualization of gut mucosal cells, describing the enterochromaffin cell in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

OBJECTIVE: Enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the gastrointestinal tract have an important function as regulators of secretion, motility and sensation. The EC cell has traditionally been described as bottle-shaped, with basally located stores of serotonin. Stimuli acting on the apical membrane trigger serotonin release, which in turn activates the subepithelial sensory nerve terminals. To better describe the appearance of EC cells, we developed a new method for visualization of mucosal cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The stomach, small intestine and large intestine were excised from Sprague-Dawley rats and then fixed in formalin. The organs were everted and filled with pronase solution. Single cells and aggregates of formalin-fixed mucosal cells were collected by scraping the mucosa off the muscularis mucosa. EC cells were visualized by staining for immunoreactivity against serotonin. RESULTS: EC cells with luminal extensions and very long (up to 80 microM) basally located axon-like extensions, sometimes connecting to neuron-like structures, were found. Other EC cells had no or only short and blunt basal extensions. Dividing serotonin-containing EC cells were also seen. CONCLUSIONS: These findings could make an important contribution towards furthering our understanding of EC cell function in gastrointestinal physiology. This new method can also readily be used to give better visualization of the morphology of other mucosal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Neurogenic appendicopathy--role of enterochromaffin cells in its pathogenesis.

One hundred cases of neurogenic appendicopathy were histochemically studied for schwann cells and enterochromaffin cells. The early phase, labelled as neuro-appendicopathy (29 cases) showed minimum to moderate number of extraepithelial enterochromaffin cells without neurogenous hyperplasia. In 53 cases, there was intra and submucosal neural hyperplasia with increase in the extraepithelial enterochromaffin cells, representing the active phase. The late phase known as obliterative neurogenic appendicopathy, showed extraepithelial enterochromaffin cells and schwann cell proliferation of variable grades (18 cases). The origin of extraepithelial enterochromaffin cells is related to proliferating nerve plexus, rather than epithelial enterochromaffin cells.

Appendicitis↗
PubMed2001

D-glucose releases 5-hydroxytryptamine from human BON cells as a model of enterochromaffin cells.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is released from enterochromaffin cells and activates neural reflex programs regulating motility and secretion. Although sugars are reported to release 5-HT in vivo, it is unclear whether they act directly on enterochromaffin cells or indirectly through an intermediary messenger. The aim was to determine if D-glucose is a stimulus for 5-HT release. METHODS: Human BON cells, derived from enterochromaffin cells, were treated with D-glucose, galactose, and the nonmetabolizable methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside, or with fructose. RESULTS: Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction together with Western blot analysis revealed an SGLT-like protein. D-glucose caused a concentration-dependent increase in 5-HT release, which was mimicked by methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside and galactose but not fructose. D-glucose-stimulated 5-HT release was significantly reduced by phloridzin. Concentrations of mannitol below 75 mmol/L were ineffective in releasing 5-HT. Brefeldin A abolished forskolin-stimulated 5-HT release without affecting basal or constitutive release. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that high concentrations of metabolizable and nonmetabolizable hexoses activate signal transduction pathways, leading to release of 5-HT. These findings imply a role for enterochromaffin cells as "glucose sensors" during ingestion of a meal.

Brefeldin A↗
PubMed1987

Bipolarity of duodenal enterochromaffin cells in the rat.

Enterochromaffin cells of the rat duodenum have been studied immunocytochemically by use of a specific antiserum to serotonin. At the light-microscopic level serotonin immunoreactivity was observed in enterochromaffin cells located in the epithelium of the duodenal mucosa. Most of the serotonin-immunoreactive material was localized to the basal portion of the enterochromaffin cells, but small amounts of immunoreactive material were regularly observed in the apical portion. At the electron-microscopic level serotonin immunoreactivity in enterochromaffin cells was found to be concentrated over the dense cores of the cytoplasmic granules. The majority of these granules was located in the basal cytoplasm of the enterochromaffin cells, but serotonin-immunoreactive granules were also observed in the apical cytoplasm immediately beneath the microvilli. These observations indicate that duodenal enterochromaffin cells are bipolar and that they secrete serotonin both basally, to the circulation, and apically, to the gut lumen. Rat duodenal enterochromaffin cells thus appear to have an exocrine as well as an endocrine function.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Differential demonstration of the motilin-cell and the enterochromaffin-cell.

Motilin cells were investigated in the GI-tract of various laboratory animals by immunfluorescence. The distribution of motilin cells was compared to enterochromaffin (EC) cell localization. Simultaneously histochemistry for EC-cells and motilin cells was carried out. The results indicate that motilin is not produced within the EC-cells. Present classification of motilin cells on ultrastructural evidence is therefore not yet possible.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Immunoelectron cytochemical localization of motilin in human duodenal enterochromaffin cells.

Two types of enterochromaffin cells can be demonstrated in the human duodenal mucosa by means of the Masson-Fontana reaction for argentaffinity applied to ultrathin sections. The 22-amino acid peptide motilin has now been localized exclusively to the duodenal type of enterochromaffin cell by immunoelectron microscopy. This cell occurs predominantly in the duodenum and upper jejunum. It is concluded that at least two types of enterochromaffin cells exist in the human gut mucosa and that they produce at least one biogenic amine as well as two peptides. Therefore they could provide a useful model for studies of the interrelationship of storage and release of amines and peptides.

Chromaffin System↗
PubMed1997

Uroguanylin is expressed by enterochromaffin cells in the rat gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Guanylin and uroguanylin are recently discovered intestinal peptides. Identifying the type of cell that synthesizes and secretes each peptide is an important step toward defining their physiological functions. However, the site of uroguanylin expression has not been identified, and the site of guanylin expression remains controversial (some studies implicate goblet cells, whereas others implicate enterochromaffin cells). The aim of the present study was to identify cellular sites of uroguanylin expression in the rat gastrointestinal tract and resolve the guanylin localization controversy. METHODS: Polyclonal antibodies against two independent regions of the uroguanylin prohormone were raised and used to evaluate prouroguanylin expression by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. In parallel, uroguanylin mRNA was localized by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Uroguanylin propeptide expression is high in proximal small intestine, low in stomach and distal small intestine, and almost undetectable in large intestine. Uroguanylin-expressing cells are identified as a subpopulation of enterochromaffin cells. CONCLUSIONS: Previous results showing guanylin expression in enterochromaffin cells appear to be a consequence of antibody cross-reactivity for epitopes conserved between proguanylin and prouroguanylin. Expression of uroguanylin in enterochromaffin cells is consistent with the hypothesis that uroguanylin is secreted both apically (into the lumen) and basolaterally (into the circulation).

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Cholinergic agonists induce vectorial release of serotonin from duodenal enterochromaffin cells.

Serotonin-containing enterochromaffin cells in the rabbit duodenal mucosa span the tissue contacting both the luminal and serosal sides. When the serosal surface is stimulated with carbachol in vitro, serotonin is secreted on the serosal side but not the mucosal side. Carbachol added to the luminal side is ineffective. Atropine but not hexamethonium blocks the effect of carbachol. Acetylcholine on the serosal surface also stimulates serotonin release on the serosal side. These findings indicate that enterochromaffin cells possess on their serosal surfaces muscarinic receptors that mediate vectorial release of serotonin when activated by cholinergic agonists.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1984

Human colonic substance P-producing cells are a separate population from the serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells.

Human colonic mucosa was immunostained with antibodies against substance P to identify the endocrine cells containing this peptide in the mucosal glands. Dual immunohistochemical and histochemical studies were also carried out to determine whether these cells are enterochromaffin cells and contain serotonin as claimed in the literature. The results obtained indicate that the normal human colonic substance P-producing cells are not argentaffin cells, nor do they contain serotonin. In addition, they are also negative both for several silver and for other techniques commonly used to identify digestive endocrine cells. They are positive, however, with the argyrophilic technique of Churukian-Schenk. It is concluded, therefore, that the substance P-producing cells of the human colonic mucosa are not a subpopulation of the enterochromaffin cells, but constitute a distinct and independent cell type.

Colon↗
PubMed1957

On the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine in mammalian enterochromaffin cells and its release by reserpine.

The enterochromaffin cells of the guinea pig duodenum and 5-hydroxytryptamine incorporated into gelatin models gave, after formalin fixation, nearly identical reactions with methenamine silver, ferric-ferricyanide, and diazotized o-aminoazotoluene. Following formaldehyde fixation the indole reaction with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde was negative in tissue enterochromaffin cells; similarly the indole reaction was negative after formaldehyde fixation of gelatin models. In the duodenum of the guinea pig 5-hydroxytryptamine appears to be largely, if not entirely, contained in the enterochromaffin cells. Its intracellular concentration estimated from relative cell volume and assay of concentration in the whole tissue, was not less than 5 mg./gm. of cells, and as judged by the intensity of staining reaction may have been as high as 10 to 20 mg./gm. of cells. Reserpine administered parenterally caused release of the chromogenic material of duodenal enterochromaffin cells and a parallel reduction in the amount of extractable 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Effect of central administration of leu-enkephalin on neurosecretory cells of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and enterochromaffin cells of the stomach].

Administration of enkephalin into the 3rd ventricle enhanced the excitability of the paraventricular nucleus neurosecretory cells, the excitability reaching its maximum within 10 min. By the 15th min after the enkephalin administration the number of the enterochromaffin cells increases suggesting the inhibition of the secretory granules contents release into the blood. Within next 15 min the excitability of the hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons returns to its normal level. A simultaneous sharp decrease of the enterochromaffin cells occurs suggesting an endogenous activation of the secretory granules contents release.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intestinal adenomas of Min-mice lack enterochromaffin cells, and have increased lysozyme production in non-Paneth cells.

BACKGROUND: Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are important in maintaining normal epithelial mucosa. Intestinal tissues with mutations in Apc have disturbed cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Paneth and enterochromaffin cells were studied in the intestine and intestinal adenomas from Min-mice with heterozygote and homozygote mutations in Apc, respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presence of Paneth and enterochromaffin cells in normal intestine and adenomas from Min-mice was studied in sections stained with lysozyme/PAS and connexin32. RESULTS: Min-mice intestinal adenomas had an increased number of lysozyme-producing Paneth/goblet and non-Paneth cells and a reduced number of enterochromaffin cells. The large intestine had a significantly higher number of enterochromaffin cells than the small intestine and more were seen in the large intestine of Min- compared with wt-mice. CONCLUSION: Altered cell differentiation in adenomas might be caused by different response to Wnt-signalling, while an increased number of enterochromaffin cells in the large intestine is rather an effect of a heterozygous Apc(Min) mutation.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗