Polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes and sulfate uptake of the gastric epithelial cells of Xenodon merremii Wagler, 1824 (Ophidia): an histochemical and autoradiographic study.

Several histochemical tests were applied to the lining and glandular gastric epithelium of Xenodon merremii. Our observations, after discussion and interpretation, conducted to the following conclusions: 1. the surface epithelial cells, the neck cells, the body cells and the pyloric cells showed neutral polysaccharides, arginine, tyrosine, cysteine, acid phosphatase, AMPase and esterase. 2. besides these substances, in the surface epithelial cells was found tryptophan and in the body cells tryptophan and RNA.