The frequency of glassy cells in Barrett's mucosa: a study in Baboons.
BACKGROUND
Glands with glassy cells (GGCs) were recently found in 1.8% of patients showing Barrett's mucosa in esophageal biopsies. Similar GGCs were more recently detected in a baboon having glandulo-metaplastic esophageal mucosa (GMEM). The aim was to assess the frequency of baboons with GMEM having GGCs.


METHODS
GGCs were sought in 68 consecutive baboons having GMEM. Sections were stained with H&E, and with alcian blue (pH 2.5) to detect sialomucins in goblet cells (a marker of Barrett's mucosa in GMEM).


RESULTS
Two out of the 68 baboons with Barrett's mucosa (2.9%) showed GGCs.


CONCLUSIONS
In similarity to humans, the Barrett's mucosa in baboons may show GGCs. Although the significance of GGCs in baboons (and in humans) remains poorly understood, their presence might not be a fortuitous event but may be linked to the molecular events leading to the development of intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's mucosa, a known pre-neoplastic mucosal change in the distal esophagus in humans.
Rubio
Carlos A
CA
Southwest Foundation Primate Research Center, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX 78245-0549, USA. Carlos.Rubio@ki.se
Dick
Edward J
EJ
Orrego
Abiel
A
Hubbard
Gene B
GB
D000818:Animals; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008679:Metaplasia; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010215:Papio; D052116:Sialomucins / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D052116:Sialomucins