Immunohistochemical study on the morphology of enterochromaffin cells in the human fundic mucosa.

The morphology of enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the human fundic mucosa was investigated at the light-microscopic level by means of the unlabeled peroxidase anti-peroxidase method, with the use of a highly specific anti-serotonin serum. EC-cells in the human fundic mucosa were sparsely distributed below the neck portion of the gland, but were found to be rather numerous in its lower half. Immunohistochemistry revealed marked pleomorphic and seemingly polynuclear EC-cells or cells with long, sometimes multipolar cytoplasmic processes. In addition, luminal contacts and contiguity between EC-cells, or interglandular connections were also encountered. The present immunohistochemical procedure permits, for the first time, a clear-cut morphological visualization of the entire population of EC-cells, and reveals the distinctive morphological features of these cells in the human fundic mucosa. These morphological findings imply that EC-cells in the fundic mucosa may be crucial in gastric function.