G and D cells in rat antral mucosa: an immunoelectron microscopic study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the gastrin secreting cells (G cells) and the somatostatin secreting cells (D cells) of antral mucosa in rats at the ultrastructural level.


METHODS
Revised immunoelectron microscopic technique was used to detect the G cells and D cells in rat antral mucosa through gastrin and somatostatin antibodies labeled by colloidal gold. Also the relevant quantitative analysis regarding the granular number of colloidal gold in G cells and in D cells was conducted.


RESULTS
Immunological granules of colloidal gold were distributed in G cells and D cells. Gastrin labeled golden granules or somatostatin labeled ones presented mainly as lobation-like or island-like congeries. Most of the golden congeries were observed dissociated in cytoplasms of G cells or D cells, near the basement membrane. A few golden congeries were located in nuclei. The number of golden granules in one G cell was around 107.04 +/- 19.68 and was 83.36 +/- 17.58 in one D cell.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrin secreting granules are located in cytoplasms and nuclei of G cells, and somatostatin secreting granules both in cytoplasms and in nuclei of D cells. The number of golden granules can be quantitatively analyzed to determine the relative amount of gastrin secreting granules or somatostatin secreting granules.
Sun
Feng-Peng
FP
Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China. sci@china.com
Song
Yu-Gang
YG
D000818:Animals; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019863:Gastrin-Secreting Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019864:Somatostatin-Secreting Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*