Physiology of the ECL cells

The enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells of the oxyntic mucosa (fundus) of the stomach produce, store and secrete histamine, chromogranin A-derived pepti des such as pancreastatin, and an unanticipated but as yet unidentified pep tide hormone. The cells are stimulated by gastrin and pituitary adenylate c yclase activating peptide and suppressed by somatostatin and galanin. Choli ne esters and histamine seem to be without effect on ECL cell secretion. Th e existence of a gastrin-ECL cell axis not only explains how gastrin stimul ates acid secretion but also may help to explore the functional significanc e of the ECL cells with respect to the nature and bioactivity of its peptid e hormone. From the results of studies of gastrectomized/fundectomized and gastrin-treated rats, it has been speculated that the anticipated ECL-cell peptide hormone acts on bone metabolism.