The distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) in human gastric mucosa.

The content of 5 hydroxytryptamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine was measured in 8 mucosal sections over the entire expanse of 11 human stomachs obtained at post-mortem examination. It was shown that the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine is significantly greater in the pyloric region than in the remainder of the gastric mucosa (P < 0.001). 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine also increased more than twofold near the pylorus (P < 0.05). While the presence of this catecholamine in the mucosal layer could be unequivocally established by chemical means, no definite cellular localization could be demonstrated by formaldehyde-induced fluorescent microscopy.