Histochemical and ultrastructural observation of endocrine cells in pathological gastric mucosa.

Recent achievements of gastrointestinal endocrinology on the basis of new techniques enabled investigation of endocrine cells in pathological conditions. The present paper describes investigations of 56 surgical cases of the stomachs operated on for duodenal and gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. Argyrophilic cell hyperplasia was common in non-metaplastic antropyloric mucosa in duodenal ulcer cases, not so common, however, in gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. In metaplastic mucosa enterochromaffin (EC) cells predominated. Intestinal metaplasia appeared to be the most significant factor influencing endocrine cells spectrum within antropyloric mucosa. A new observation is described of argyrophilic cells seen in lamina propria apart from glandular epithelium. We consider a working hypothesis of neuroendocrine complex hyperplasia especially well marked in some cases of duodenal ulcer.