Rat stomach enterochromaffin-like cells are not stimulated by pylorus ligation. A biochemical and ultrastructural study.

BACKGROUND

The enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in the rat oxyntic mucosa produce histamine and contain cytoplasmic granules, microvesicles, and secretory vesicles. The cells respond to gastrin by the release of histamine (associated with loss of secretory vesicles), which is thought to mediate the gastrin-induced stimulation of the parietal cells. Gastric acid secretion is stimulated also by vagal excitation, which can be induced, for instance, by pylorus ligation. The present study addresses the question whether the ECL cells are involved in the acid response to pylorus ligation.

METHODS

Rats were subjected to pylorus ligation and killed 4 or 16 h later. Other rats were subjected to sham operation (laparotomy). Some of the rats received human Leu15-gastrin-17 (5 nmol/kg/h) by intravenous infusion for 30 or 60 min before being killed. The serum gastrin concentration, the oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity, HDC mRNA concentration, histamine concentration, and gastric acid output were measured. Specimens from the oxyntic mucosa were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Electron micrographs of ECL cells were analyzed planimetrically.

RESULTS

The gastric acid output was high, but the serum gastrin concentration was not affected by the pylorus ligation. The HDC activity and the level of HDC mRNA in the oxyntic mucosa were reduced, but the histamine concentration was unchanged. The secretory vesicles and granules of the ECL cells were unaffected, whereas the number and volume density of the microvesicles were reduced. Gastrin administration to sham-operated and pylorus-ligated rats lowered the oxyntic mucosal histamine concentration and increased the HDC activity in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

ECL cells in the rat stomach do not mediate the gastric acid response to pylorus ligation, and ECL cells in the pylorus-ligated stomach retain their ability to respond to gastrin with activation.