Radioautographic study of proliferation in the stomach of the rat using thymidine-H3 and compound 48/80

A focus on parietal cells as a renewing cell population

The fact that the acid-secreting parietal cells undergo continuous renewal has been ignored by many gastroenterologists and cell biologists. In the past, it was thought that these cells were static. However, by using (3)H-thymidine radioautography in combination with electron microscopy, it was possible to demonstrate that parietal cells belong to a continuously renewing epithelial cell lineage. In the gastric glands, stem cells anchored in the isthmus region are responsible for the production of parietal cells. The stem cells give rise to three main progenitors: prepit, preneck and preparietal cells. Parietal cells develop either directly from the non-cycling preparietal cells or less commonly via differentiation of the cycling prepit and preneck cell progenitors. The formation of a parietal cell is a sequential process which involves diminishment of glycocalyx, production of cytoplasmic tubulovesicles, an increase in number and length of microvilli, an increase in number and size of mitochondria, and finally, expansion and invagination of the apical membrane with the formation of an intracellular canalicular system. Little is known about the genetic counterparts of these morphological events. However, the time dimension of parietal cell production and the consequences of its alteration on the biological features of the gastric gland are well documented. The production of a new parietal cell takes about 2 d. However, mature parietal cells have a long lifespan during which they migrate bi-directionally while their functional activity for acid secretion gradually diminishes. Following an average lifespan of about 54 d, in mice, old parietal cells undergo degeneration and elimination. Various approaches for genetic alteration of the development of parietal cells have provided evidence in support of their role as governors of the stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation programs. Revealing the dynamic features and the various roles of parietal cells would help in a better understanding of the biological features of the gastric glands and would hopefully help in providing a basis for the development of new strategies for prevention, early detection and/or therapy of various gastric disorders in which parietal cells are involved, such as atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer.

Cellular origin of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Although the link between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer is well established, little is known about the early development and detection of this malignant disease. Cancer is the disease of epithelia and recently, it has been suggested that some cancers originate in adult stem cells. Advances have been made in identifying the gastric epithelial stem cells and their immediate descendents, which act as progenitors giving rise to mucus-, acid-, pepsinogen-, and hormone-secreting cell lineages. Analyses of some genetically manipulated animal models in which the proliferation and differentiation program of the gastric stem/progenitor cells was altered by different approaches have provided some clues to the cellular origin of gastric cancer. Despite the challenges and the similarity between gastric epithelial progenitors and their differentiation program in mice and humans, it remains to be determined whether observations made in genetically engineered mice are also applicable to humans.

An immunocytochemical study of regeneration of gastric epithelia in rat experimental ulcers

We experimentally observed the process of regeneration of gastric mucosal cells in ulcers induced by surgical removal of the fundic mucosa of rats. The techniques utilized were immunocytochemistry, laser confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Routine TEM and PAS reaction were used for parietal cells, chief cells, and mucous cells. As markers of parietal cells, H+-K+ ATPase, Na+-K+ ATPase, carbonic anhydrase, and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) were used, and for chief cells pepsinogen was used. Healing process of mucosal defect was as follows. On day 2 after the operation, the single-layered regenerating epithelium (RE) originating from the marginal epithelium of the ulcer extended over the granulation tissue of the ulcer base towards the center. Regenerating glands (RGs) appeared in the ulcer margin. The cells appearing first in the RE were undifferentiated cells that had a high nucleus: cytoplasm ratio and abundant free ribosomes. On day 5, the ulcer was almost filled with RGs. Most cells stained positive for PAS reaction. A few immature parietal cells stained weakly with H+-K+ ATPase, Na+-K+ ATPase, carbonic anhydrase, and aquaporin-4 antibodies, and a few immature chief cells stained weakly with pepsinogen antibody were also observed on day 5. On day 10, the ulcer was filled with RGs. The RGs in the periphery of the ulcer stained positive for markers of mature parietal cells and chief cells, whereas the center of the ulcer was composed of immature parietal cells and chief cells. By day 25, the mucosal defect was filled with normal gastric glands formed by maturation of the RGs. The undifferentiated cells that first appeared in the ulcer margin seem to differentiate to special functioning cells of the stomach 5-10 days after ulcer formation.

[Development of the gastric glands of cats (Felis silvestris catus)]

There are five stages in the development of the cat's gastric glands: 1. During the stage of the indifferent epithelium from day 19 to day 24, the anlage of the stomach develops with all layers; 2. The stage of gland formation from day 24 to day 41 is the beginning of the gland buds. They develop in connection with endocrine cells on day 34 into primitive oxyntic and primitive mucous cells. The latter form the basis for all other cells, including the surface mucous cells; 3. During the stage of gland evagination from day 42 to 55, the anlagen are separated into primitive pits and tubules, while the cells continue to differentiate and the first intermediate cells are seen; 4. The stage of gland branching from day 56 to birth is characterized by the formation of additional glands at the bottom of the pits which change the ordinary anlagen into branched glands. During this stage, the cardiac glands are formed; 5. In the stage of gland maturation from birth to the 9th week, the peptic cells are formed and the glands start functioning. The oxyntic cells show carbonic-anhydrase activity and signs of acid secretion, and, between the weeks 4 and 8, the peptic cells contain pepsinogen, producing a negative reaction to PAS and a positive reaction to HID. Mucous cells and mucous neck cells produce PAS- and AB-positive mucin.

The contrasting influence of chronic nicotine intake on gastrin and gastric acid secretion

The effects of chronic nicotine treatment on gastric acid secretion stimulated by subcutaneous injection of pentagastrin, as well as on serum gastrin levels and the stomach parietal cell population, were examined. Rats drank a solution of nicotine 25 micrograms/mL tap water for periods of 10, 30 or 45 days. Pentagastrin increased the gastric secretory volume and acid output in pylorus-ligated control animals that drank tap water. Animals given nicotine in their drinking water for 10, 30 or 45 days showed increased basal gastric secretion and acid output. Pentagastrin produced maximum stimulatory effects at lower dose levels of 50 micrograms/kg in the 10-day treatment group and 25 micrograms/kg in the 30- or 45-day treatment groups; however, the maximum responses to pentagastrin in all nicotine-treated batches were comparable to those of their corresponding controls. Serum gastrin levels remained unchanged from the 10th day of nicotine treatment, whereas the levels in the control animals continued to rise with age. Nicotine 25 micrograms/mL drinking water given for 10, 30 or 45 days caused no significant changes in the parietal cell population, mucosal surface area or mucosal thickness. These findings are consistent with the idea that chronic nicotine administration, for at least 10 days, will lead to increased muscarinic receptor sensitivity; basal acid secretion is consequently elevated, and this in turn may depress gastrin secretion.

Origin and migratory pathways of the eleven epithelial cell types present in the body of the mouse stomach

The secretions of the mammalian stomach are produced by cells present in invaginations of the epithelium, which in the mouse are straight tubules referred to as "zymogenic units." These units comprise four regions, namely pit, isthmus, neck, and base, in which there are several cell lineages with different phenotypes and migratory pathways. In the isthmus, stem cells designated "undifferentiated granule-free cells" undergo division so as to maintain their own number and produce several differently oriented progenitors: (1) "Pre-pit cell precursors" are characterized by prosecretory Golgi vesicles with a uniform, fine particulate content. They give rise to "pre-pit cells" defined by the presence of few dense mucous granules. These cells migrate outward from the isthmus to the pit, where they become the dense granule-rich "pit cells" which populate the pit region and migrate to the gastric surface where they are lost. (2) "Pre-neck cell precursors" are identified by prosecretory Golgi vesicles containing an irregular dense center and a light rim. They give rise to "pre-neck cells" defined by a few mucous secretory granules with a clear-cut core. These cells migrate inward from the isthmus to the neck where they become "neck cells," which contain many such granules. Even though neck cells are mature mucus-producers, they are not end cells. As they enter the base region, they become "prezymogenic cells" whose phenotype gradually changes from mucous to serous. These cells eventually lose the ability to produce mucus and thus become the typical zymogenic cells that populate the base region. (3) "Pre-parietal cells" are classified into three variants, which probably come from three different sources, that is, pre-pit cell precursors, pre-neck precursors, and the undifferentiated granule-free cells themselves. The preparietal cells mature into parietal cells which migrate either outward to the pit or inward to the neck and base. As a result, parietal cells are scattered in the four regions of the unit. (4) Precursors of "entero-endocrine" and "caveolated" cells give rise in the isthmus to these cells, which may also migrate outward or inward.

Cell kinetics of mucosal atrophy in rat stomach induced by long-term administration of ammonia

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori produces ammonia in the stomach from urea. The present study was undertaken to clarify whether ammonia has an etiological role in H. pylori-associated gastric mucosal atrophy.

METHODS

Ammonia at 0.01% was administered as drinking water for 8 weeks and mucosal cell migration rate and cell proliferation were investigated in rat stomach.

RESULTS

Long-term administration of 0.01% ammonia for 4-8 weeks decreased mucosal thickness in the antrum but not in the body. Acceleration of cell migration preceded the occurrence of mucosal atrophy. Labeling indices in both antral and body mucosa significantly increased in all ammonia-treated groups, compared with those of the control group. In the antrum, the proliferative zone was significantly enlarged as mucosal atrophy developed, whereas, in body mucosa, enlargement of the proliferative zone occurred despite the absence of mucosal atrophy.

CONCLUSION

Ammonia at 0.01% accelerates epithelial migration, especially in the antrum, leading to mucosal atrophy. Acceleration of epithelial proliferation occurs during the development of mucosal atrophy.

Bromodeoxyuridine-immunohistochemistry on cellular differentiation and migration in the fundic gland of Xenopus laevis during development

Cellular differentiation and migration in the fundic glands of adult and larval Xenopus laevis have been examined using bromodeoxyuridine-immunohistochemistry. In the adult fundic gland, cumulative labeling with bromodeoxyuridine revealed a proliferative cell zone between the surface mucous cells and mucous neck cells, in what is referred to as the neck portion of the gland. The labeling-index of mucous neck cells had rapidly increased by week-5. The labeling-index of oxynticopeptic cells showed a more delayed increase until week-7, coincident with the decrease in the labeling of mucous neck cells. In the immature fundic glands of larvae, the labeled proliferating cells were randomly distributed throughout the developing gastric mucosa. During metamorphosis, the labeling-index of immature epithelial cells was highest at stage 63. Following administration of bromodeoxyuridine at this stage, there was no significant loss of labeled epithelial cells during the metamorphosing period. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the labeling-indices among the epithelial cells, such as surface mucous cells/generative cells, mucous neck cells, and oxynticopeptic cells, 7 days after administration. Cellular differentiation and migration pathways of epithelial cells in the fundic gland of adult X. laevis and its larvae are discussed.

Glycoconjugate histochemistry of Xenopus laevis fundic gland with special reference to mucous neck cells during development

Mucous neck cells (MNCs) of the fundic gland are phylogenetically thought to have first appeared in amphibians. We studied the origin and differentiation of MNCs in fundic glands of Xenopus laevis. By means of lectin histochemical methods using Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GSA-II), MNCs were detected specifically in fundic glands of adult X. laevis. Mucous granules of MNCs were labeled by GSA-II-colloidal gold (CG) staining. Other cells such as surface mucous cells (SMCs), oxynticopeptic cells (OPCs), and endocrine cells did not react to GSA-II. Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I specifically stained OPCs, but not MNCs and SMCs. During the morphogenetic period of the stomach in metamorphosing larvae, GSA-II reactive cells randomly appeared in various portions of the underdeveloped fundic glands and then rapidly localized in the neck portion. At this time, newly appearing mucous granules of MNC type were labeled by GSA-II-CG. Two types of cells intermediate to MNCs and SMCs and intermediate to MNCs and OPCs were observed in the larval gastric region. Cells intermediate to MNCs and OPCs were also found in adults. In these cells, mucous granules of MNC type were labeled by GSA-II-CG, but mucous granules of SMC type and zymogen-like granules did not react to GSA-II. These observations suggest that GSA-II is a useful marker in studying the differentiation of MNCs and their precursors regardless of species differentiation.

Sequential protooncogene expression during regeneration in rat stomach

Cellular protooncogenes such as c-myc and c-Ha-ras may play important roles in the control of regeneration of the stomach. In this study, in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to determine how these protooncogenes and the corresponding oncoproteins are expressed at the cellular level during gastric regeneration after mucosal injuries caused by indomethacin. In addition, cells in the S-phase were immunohistochemically detected by means of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation. Expression of the c-myc gene was localized to nuclei and reached a maximum at 3 h, and that of the c-Ha-ras gene was localized to cytoplasm with a peak at 6-12 h after treatment on the mucous neck, parietal, chief, and enterochromaffinlike cells around the lesions. The distribution of cells in the S-phase roughly coincided with that of cells in which expression of the protooncogenes was detected. In conclusion, various types of gastric mucosal cells participated in the sequential regulated expression of cellular protooncogenes during regeneration of the rat stomach.

Glycoconjugate histochemistry of the rat fundic gland using Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II during the development

The development and maturation of fundic glands of Wistar rats were studied using Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GSA-II) histochemistry at the light microscopic and electron microscopic levels. In adult rats, mucous neck cells and cells intermediate between mucous neck cells and chief cells were specifically labeled with GSA-II, whereas other fundic gland cells were virtually negative. Ontogenetic studies revealed that GSA-II positive cells appeared at the bottom of the gland by 21 days of gestation. With differentiation and aging, the elongation of the fundic gland continued, and the labeling intensity of the mucous neck cells increased by 3 weeks after birth. Cells intermediate between mucous neck cells and chief cells were discernible from 3 days after birth. Typical mucous neck cells appeared at 3 weeks after birth, when their labeling intensity with colloidal gold (CG) particles approximated that of adults. On the other hand, the reactive cell population gradually moved from the bottom toward the middle portion of the gland. Finally, the reactive cells were localized at the neck portion of the fundic gland. These results suggest that GSA-II is a valuable marker for studying mucous neck cells and both their precursor cells and their derivatives.

An autoradiographic study of the developing parietal cell population in neonatal pigs

Autoradiographic labelling using tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) was used to examine the pattern of development of gastric parietal cells in newborn pigs. Specific objectives were to establish sites in the gland where cells with a characteristic parietal cell morphology first appear, the extent of their migration or displacement, and the kinetics of any development and migration that occurs. Five newly-born littermate piglets were given a virtually continuous label of [3H]TdR over 24 hr, sacrificed at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days thereafter, and samples of the gastric mucosa taken. The percentage of labelled parietal cells as a function of position in the oxyntic gland was measured for each pig. A generalized log linear model was fitted to the data using the statistical package GLIM, confirming a significant trend for labelled cells to occupy higher sites in the oxyntic gland as the time since labelling of cells increased. Goodness of fit tests showed that the trend effect was highly unlikely to be due to the variability of cell distribution from animal to animal. The dynamics of the parietal cell population and the strengths of GLIM for analysing cell labelling data are discussed.

Cytochemical and scanning electron-microscopic analysis of apoptotic cells and their phagocytosis in mucoid epithelium of the mouse stomach

The formation of apoptotic cells and their phagocytosis by viable neighbouring cells in the gastric epithelium of 2- to 6-day-old mice was analysed. In order to observe the topographic relationship between apoptotic and normal epithelial cells using scanning electron microscope, the critical-point dried tissues was cracked before coating with gold. Cytochemical methods for the identification of surface carbohydrates and different tracers for apical and lateral cell membranes were applied for the analysis using the transmission electron microscope. Apoptotic cells were found on apical and lateral surfaces; this indicates the presence of tight connections with viable cells at some points. Ruthenium red strongly stained all accessible surfaces of normal cells and of apoptotic bodies. The quantity of neutral mucosubstances, as revealed by staining with tannic acid-uranyl acetate, seemed to decrease in the glycocalyx of apoptotic cells. The scanning and transmission electron-microscopic results suggest that the phagocytotic vacuoles arise at the lateral side of the cells. The phagocytotic activity is not dependent upon a definite differentiation step of the mucoid cell.

The carbohydrates of secretory granules and the glycocalyx in developing mucoid cells

Complex carbohydrates in secretory granules and at the apical cell surface of mouse gastric mucoid cells were studied during embryogenesis and in the early postnatal period by various cytochemical methods; the periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (PA-TCH-SP) and tannic acid-uranyl acetate (TA-UA) procedures made neutral mucosubstances (NMS) visible, whereas the hexose residues of glycoconjugates were identified using WGA-, RCA II- and ConA-ferritin. The glycocalyx was stained with ruthenium red (RR). During differentiation of the embryonic mucoid cells the number of secretory granules increased in parallel to the increase in their carbohydrate component. NMS-stainable parts in secretory granules also had binding sites for the conjugates RCA II- and WGA-ferritin, but the binding of ConA could not be identified. The increasing quantity of NMS in secretory granules was correlated with the increased amount of PA-TCH-SP and TA-UA positive substances in the apical glycocalyx only in 14- and 18-day-old embryos. The observed uniform affinity for RR and lectin conjugates in all analysed developmental stages remains to be explained.

Recovery of rat gastric mucosa following single fluoride dosing

Rats' stomachs were intubated with 0.1 N HCl or 100 mM NaF in 0.1 N HCl and excised after 1, 12, 24, 48 h or 7 days for light microscopy. The NaF solution caused erosive injury to the oxyntic glandular mucosa 1 h after application. Progressive stages of recovery were seen at 12, 24 and 48 h after fluoride dosing. Complete recovery was seen 7 days after exposure to fluoride. The kinetics of the recovery process from fluoride injury appear to be similar to those which have been reported for gastric injury produced by other substances.

[Histological and histoautoradiographical examination of the interposed jejunum after total gastrectomy in dogs (author's transl)]

Total gastrectomy was performed on purebred beagle dogs and a 30--40 cm jejunal segment was grafted isoperistaltically between oesophagus and duodenum. Histological and histoautoradiographical examinations were carried out and the wall-thickness and the cell-transformation rate in the interponate determined. Despite the isoperistaltic substitute-stomach a muscular wall-hypertrophy of 140% of the interponated jejunum was found. The reason for this hypertrophy is thought to be the result of adhesions and the functional mechanical demands. Histoautoradiographical examinations confirmed that the regeneration time in the substitute-stomach decreased by 70% compared with the normal jejunum. The distinct reduction of cell regeneration in the regeneration in the interponated jejunum could be attributed to the considerable regression of the absorbent performance and to the increase in its mechanical exercises.