Formation and Storage ol Amines in Endocrine Ceils of Gastric Mucosa

Summary This communication summarizes current concepts on amine mechanisms in two endocrine cell systems present in the gastric mucosa of the ten mammalian species studied. One of the cell systems consists of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing enterochromaffin cells, which are agyrophilic as well as argentaffin. The other system of cells, which have been referred to as because of their morphological resemblance with the enterochromaffin cells, are also argyrophilic but not argentaffin. The enterochromaffin-like cells are devoid of histochemically detectable monoamines but can be made to produce and store dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine after administration of the immediate natural precursors. There is a considerable species variation regarding the number and distribution and the cytochemical properties of the two cell systems in the gastric mucosa. In the rat and mouse the enterochromaffin-like cells are the main storage site for gastric histamine. In all other species studied, gastric histamine is contained in mast cells exclusively. The enterochromaffin and enterochromaffinqike cells appear to be the main stores for the non-specific aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase of gastric mucosa. Histidine decarboxylase has been demonstrated only in those enterochromaffin-like cells which contain histamine. Recent observations indicate that these two cell systems are responsible for the production of gastrointestinal hormones and probably also for the antipernicious principle (,,intrinsic factor). It is suggested that in the enterochromaffin and enterochromaffin-like cells the capacity to produce amines and polypeptide (or protein) hormones is functionally interrelated. Two separate systems of probably endocrine cells, displaying all the morphological features of protein- or polypeptide-secr eting cells, have been described in gastric mucosa (Hgtkanson and Owman, 1966; Solcia and coll., 1967; Aures and Hg~kanson, 1968; Pearse, 1968). One is the system of 5-hydroxytryptam ine (5HT) containing enterochromaffin cells (Erspamc7