Intrinsic factor in the human fetal stomach. An immunocytochemical study.

The stomachs from 15 human fetuses and 5 neonates were examined by immunocytochemical methods for the presence of intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor was localised in cells within the gastric mucosa of all fetuses from 11 weeks of gestation onwards. The cells, which were immunoreactive for intrinsic factor, were located mainly at the base of the developing gastric glands in both the pylorus and corpus of the stomach. Occasional cells located at the isthmus of the gastric glands and amongst the surface columnar cells were strongly immunoreactive for intrinsic factor. With conventional staining these cells had the morphological and histochemical characteristics of parietal cells.