Histamine containing cells in gastric fundus of dogs
Hui, W.M.; Liu, H.C.; Lam, S.K.; Koo, A.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 33(6): 747-754
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-5680 PMID: 3440280 Document Number: 291522
The source of histamine in the canine stomach has not been established. To investigate whether the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells of the canine stomach contain histamine, canine fundic gastric sections are meticulously studied. A modified o-phthaladehyde fluorescence method was used to examine the histamine content of the of the ECL cells and Grimelius silver method was used to stain up the ECL cells in adjacent sections. The yellow fluorescence characteristic of histamine, not demonstrable with secretin, glucagon and somatostatin was shown by the ECL cells, and was located in the middle and lower portions of the gastric glands, above the basement membrane, and in close proximity to the parietal cells. An identical fluorescence was observed in the mast cells, which are known to contain histamine and are located in the lamina propria. We conclude that ECL cells of the canine stomach contain histamine. Their intimate relationship with the parietal cells strongly suggest that ECL cells may play an important role in the control of acid secretion in dogs.