Ultrastructure of atrophic gastritis and gastric carcinoma
Liu, T.H.
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 4(2): 89-92
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-3766 PMID: 7128430 Document Number: 195799
Specimens from 46 gastric carcinomas of different histological types, 15 chronic atrophic gastritis, 3 severe dysplasia and 3 relatively normal gastric mucosa were studied by EM. The ultrastructure of chronic atrophic gastritis was similar to those of normal gastric and intestinal epithelia, while the structure of severe dysplasia closely resembled that of gastric cancer. Cancer cells with glandular formation had microvilli of different sizes and densities on their free surface. In most cases, the microvilli displayed central filament cores. Mucous granules of different sizes, shapes and electron densities were found in different cancer cells. Some of the signet ring carcinoma cells contained goblet cell type mucous granules. Comparing the ultrastructures of normal gastric epithelial cells with those of differentiated carcinoma cells and undifferentiated carcinoma cells, an important observation was the change of cell surface membrane related to carcinogenesis. When cancer cells become less and less differentiated, the intercellular junctions of various types become more and more thinned, shortened and reduced in number or even disappeared altogether. The replacement of intercellular cell junctions by cytoplasmic processes would likely facilitate these undifferentiated cancer cells to be detached from each other and promote their invasion and metastasis.