[Endocrine apparatus of human gastric mucosa].

Endocrine cells of the gastric fundal and pyloric mucosa in patients suffering from gastric and duodenal ulcers with different gastric juice acidity, were studied. At hyperacid ulcers, the number of argyrhilic endocrine cells of gastric fundus was increased to 218 +/- 21.1 as compared with the normal acidity 164 +/- 14.8, while it was decreased to 97 +/- 15.1 as compared with hypoacidity. Argentaffinic cells were found in patients with hypo- and unacid gastric juice only. The electron microscopy revealed six types of endocrine cells (A-like, ECL, G, D, D1, EC). The ultrastructural changes of A-like, ECL, and G cells in patients with hyperacid gastric juice indicated their high functional activity. A balance seems to exist between activating and inhibiting systems of the endocrine apparatus of gastric mucosa which accounts for the hyperacidity of the gastric juice.