title: Secretory and absorptive activity of oesophageal epithelium: evidence of circulating mucosubstances.
abstract: The space between the oesophageal basal and prickle epithelial cells appears empty by standard ultrastructural preparative techniques. Fixation of human oesophageal biopsies with a variety of agents, including tannic acid, glutaraldehyde-lysine, cetylpyridinium chloride and Ruthenium Red shows that this space is filled with mucosubstances, some free, some attached to the cells as a glycocalyx. There is evidence that this material is secreted constitutively by the basal and prickle cells. This secretion may be changed or blocked by incubating oesophageal biopsies in the presence of colchicine or dinitrophenol. Incubation at 16 degrees C has the same effect. Absorption from the intercellular space may be followed using the fluid phase marker, horseradish peroxidase. Early endosomes may also be shown by their acid phosphatase activity. Incubation of biopsies at 20-22 degrees C allows early endosomes to accumulate material, but not pass it on the late endosomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wormsley
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D008239:Lysine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007211:Indoles; D009088:Mucoproteins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011134:Polysaccharides; C015445:copper phthalocyanine; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D008239:Lysine; D005976:Glutaral