GASTRIC-MUCOSAL HISTAMINE STORING CELLS - EVIDENCE FOR DIFFERENT ROLES OF MAST-CELLS AND ENTEROCHROMAFFIN-LIKE CELLS IN HUMANS

Gastric mucosal histamine content, enterochromaffin-like cell density, and mast cell density were studied in 13 subjects under omeprazole th erapy, 13 partially gastrectomized subjects with a Billroth II reconst ruction, 10 partially gastrectomized subjects with a Roux-en-Y reconst ruction, and 9 control subjects. Histamine content was significantly g reater both in the subjects with higher gastrinemic levels (omeprazole -treated subjects) and those with more abundant enterogastric reflux ( Billroth II subjects) than in controls. Enterochromaffin-like cell den sity was significantly greater in the omeprazole subjects than in each of the other groups. Mast cell density was significantly greater in B illroth II subjects than in controls. Serum gastrin levels, mucosal hi stamine content, and enterochromaffin-like cell density were positivel y correlated. Gastrin was not correlated to mast cell densilty: These results support the existence of different control pathways for entero chromaffin-like and mast cells. Moreover, they suggest that enterochro maffin-like cells and mast cells are involved in the regulation of gas tric secretion and in gastric mucosal injury-repair mechanisms, respec tively, due to histamine release.