A Histochemical Approach to the Cholinergic Innervation of Endocrine-Like Cells in Dog Antro-Pyloric Mucosa

Abstract

The cholinergic innervation of endocrine-like cells (probably identical with gastrin containing cells, G-cells) in dog antro-pyloric mucosa was studied histochemically, and was compared with that of secretory cells in fundic mucosa. Endocrine-like cells and cholinergic nerve fibers were detected by formaldehyde-HCl treatment and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) staining, respectively. In the fundic mucosa, cholinergic nerve fibers were widely observed along the oxyntic glands, particularly in their middle area. Cholinergic nerve fibers were seen in dose proximity to the bases of secretory cells, and the distribution of cholinergic nerve fibers well coincided with that of parietal cells and chief cells. Cholinergic nerve fibers were detected also in the antropyloric mucosa, but they were rather restricted to the basal half of the mucosa. In this region endocrine-like cells were seen after formaldehyde-HCl treatment. Demonstrating cholinergic nerve fibers and endocrine-like cells simultaneously in one section, we found that the former came in close proximity to the bases of endocrine-like cells. These results suggest that cholinergic nerve fibers control not only the production of gastric juice from the fundic mucosa but also the release of gastrin from the antropyloric mucosa.