Gastric Glands (gastric + gland)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The ontogeny of the alimentary tract of larval pandora, Pagellus erythrinus L.

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2004
V. Micale
The ontogenesis of the alimentary tract and its associated structures (liver, pancreas, gall bladder) was studied in common pandora Pagellus eythrinus L., a promising species for diversification in Mediterranean aquaculture. Mass production of pandora has been limited so far by high larval and juvenile mortalities, which appear to be related to nutritional deficiencies. The development of the larval digestive system was studied histologically from hatching (0 DAH) until day 50 (50 DAH) in reared specimens, obtained by natural spawning from a broodstock adapted to captivity. At first feeding (3,4 DAH) both the mouth and anus had opened and the digestive tract was differentiated in four portions: buccopharynx, oesophagus, incipient stomach and intestine. The pancreas, liver and gall bladder were also differentiated at this stage. Soon after the commencement of exogenous feeding (5,6 DAH), the anterior intestinal epithelium showed large vacuoles indicating the capacity for absorption of lipids, whereas acidophilic supranuclear inclusions indicating protein absorption were observed in the posterior intestinal epithelium. Both the bile and main pancreatic ducts had opened in the anterior intestine, just after the pyloric sphincter, at this stage. Intestinal coiling was apparent since 4 DAH, while mucosal folding began at 10 DAH. Scattered mucous cells occurred in the oral cavity and the intestine, while they were largely diffused in the oesophagus. Gastric glands and pyloric caeca were firstly observed at 28 DAH and appeared well developed by 41 DAH, indicating the transition from larval to juvenile stage and the acquisition of an adult mode of digestion. [source]


The Mucosa of the Digestive Tract in Micropogonias furnieri: A Light and Electron Microscope Approach

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 4 2008
A. O. Diaz
Summary The histomorphological aspects as well as the histochemical content and distribution of glycoproteins (GPs) in the mucosa of the digestive tract of the white croaker Micropogonias furnieri were studied. The buccopharyngeal cavity and the esophagous showed a squamous stratified epithelium with mucous cells. The stomach presented three portions: cardias, fundus and pylorus. Tubular glands formed by a single type of gland cell were located along the cardias and fundus. Histochemical tests showed that the buccopharyngeal cavity and the esophagous presented the largest amount of the different types of mucosubstances. Both organs showed abundant secretory mucous cells that synthesize large quantities of neutral, sulphated and sialylated GPs. The surface epithelium in the cardias and fundus synthesized and secreted scarce sialylated and neutral GPs whereas the secretions of the apical surface were abundant. The pylorus secreted large amounts of neutral as well as sulphated and sialylated GPs. Gland cells secreted neutral GPs. The ultrastructural features of the gut cells were quite similar to those of other teleosts. The buccopharyngeal cavity and the esophagous surface epithelial cells, identified by their superficial localization, were characterized by cytoplasmic vesicles of different size. Abundant goblet cells with secretory mucous granules were also present. Gastric glands in the stomach contained just one form of cell with a fine structure similar to cells that secrete pepsinogen. [source]


Attack and defence in the gastric epithelium , a delicate balance

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
Rod Dimaline
The gastric epithelium is a complex structure formed into tubular branched gastric glands. The glands contain a wide variety of cell types concerned with the secretion of hydrochloric acid, proteases, mucus and a range of signalling molecules. All cell types originate from stem cells in the neck region of the gland, before migrating and differentiating to assume their characteristic positions and functions. Endocrine and local paracrine mediators are of crucial importance for maintaining structural and functional integrity of the epithelium, in the face of a hostile luminal environment. The first such mediator to be recognized, the hormone gastrin, was identified over a century ago and is now established as the major physiological stimulant of gastric acid secretion. Recent studies, including those using mice that overexpress or lack the gastrin gene, suggest a number of previously unrecognized roles for this hormone in the regulation of cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation. This review focuses on the identification of hitherto unsuspected gastrin-regulated genes and discusses the paracrine cascades that contribute to the maintenance of gastric epithelial architecture and secretory function. Helicobacter infection is also considered in cases where it shares targets and signalling mechanisms with gastrin. [source]


Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Cat: Evaluation of Gastric Colonization, Inflammation and Function

HELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2001
Kenneth W. Simpson
Background. Further elucidation of the consequences of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric mucosal inflammation and gastric secretory function would be facilitated by an animal model that is susceptible to infection with H. pylori, is broadly similar in gastric physiology and pathology to people, and is amenable to repeated non-invasive evaluation. The goal of this study was to examine the interrelationship of bacterial colonization, mucosal inflammation and gastric secretory function in cats with naturally acquired H. pylori infection. Materials and Methods. Twenty clinically healthy cats with naturally acquired H. pylori infection (cagA,, picB) and 19 Helicobacter -free cats were evaluated. Gastric colonization was determined by tissue urease activity, light microscopy, culture and PCR. The mucosal inflammatory response was evaluated by light microscopy, and by RT-PCR of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1,, IL-1,, IL-8 and TNF-, in gastric mucosa. Gastric secretory function was assessed by measuring pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, fasting plasma gastrin, and antral mucosal gastrin and somatostatin immunoreactivity. Results. H. pylori colonized the pylorus, fundus and cardia in similar density. Bacteria were observed free in the lumen of gastric glands and were also tightly adherent to epithelial cells where they were associated with microvillus effacement. Mononuclear inflammation, lymphoid follicle hyperplasia, atrophy and fibrosis were observed primarily in H. pylori -infected cats, with the pylorus most severely affected. Neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltrates, epithelial dysplasia, and up-regulation of mucosal IL-1, and IL-8 were observed solely in infected cats. Fasting plasma gastrin concentrations and pentagastrin-stimulated acid output were similar in both infected and uninfected cats. There was no relationship of bacterial colonization density or gastric inflammation to plasma gastrin concentrations or gastric acid output. Conclusions. The pattern of colonization and the mucosal inflammatory response in cats with naturally acquired H. pylori are broadly similar to those in infected people, particularly children, and non-human primates. The upregulation of IL-8 in infected cats was independent of cagA and picB. Our findings argue against a direct acid-suppressing effect of H. pylori on the gastric secretory-axis in chronically infected cats. Abbreviations: RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, HLO; Helicobacter -like organisms. [source]


Mucosal Production of Antigastric Autoantibodies in Helicobacter pylori Gastritis

HELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2000
Gerhard Faller
Background. Apart form bacterial virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori, certain host factors influence the pathogenesis of H. pylori gastritis. In particular, antigastric autoantibodies that are detectable in the sera of a substantial proportion of H. pylori were shown to correlate with the development of gastric atrophy. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible antigastric autoimmune response in H. pylori gastritis at the site where the action is, i.e., in the gastric mucosa. Material and Methods. Gastric biopsy specimens from antrum and corpus mucosa of 24 H. pylori,infected and of 33 noninfected patients were cultured for 3 days, and tissue culture supernatants were analyzed for the amount of locally produced IgA and IgG. Antigastric autoantibodies were screened in the sera and in the supernatants by means of immunohistochemistry. Results. The infected patients had significantly higher concentrations of locally produced IgA, whereas the IgG concentrations were virtually the same in infected and noninfected patients. IgG or IgA antigastric autoantibodies, or both, were detectable only in the sera (38%) and supernatants (17%) of infected patients. Interestingly, the patient with the strongest local autoimmune response showed body-predominant H. pylori gastritis, with destruction of gastric glands and atrophy of the body mucosa. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that antigastric autoimmune reactions are detectable at the site of the disease and might be relevant for the pathogenesis of gastric mucosa atrophy in H. pylori gastritis. [source]


Immunohistochemical assessment of parafibromin in mouse and human tissues

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2006
Andrea Porzionato
Abstract Parafibromin is a protein encoded by the HRPT2 oncosuppressor gene, whose mutation causes the hyperparathyroidism,jaw tumour syndrome, characterized by the occurrence of parathyroid adenoma or carcinoma, fibro-osseous jaw tumours, and renal neoplastic and non-neoplastic abnormalities. Non-morphological techniques, such as Northern and Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-PCR, indicate that parafibromin is ubiquitously expressed, but extensive immunohistochemical studies have not been performed. To increase our knowledge of the distribution and patterns of expression of parafibromin, we examined its expression and location in many different mouse and human organs by immunohistochemistry. There were no substantial differences in parafibromin expression between mouse and human. We found widespread expression of parafibromin, except in connective tissue, smooth muscle, endothelium and some other types of epithelia (colonic, urinary, tubaric, uterine, thyroid). Heterogeneity of positivity intensity and subcellular location (nuclear, nucleocytoplasmic, cytoplasmic) was found between tissues and cell types, suggesting differential functional involvement of parafibromin. Moreover, higher parafibromin expression was found in cell types, such as hepatocytes, cells of the base of gastric glands, renal cortex tubules and the pars intermedia of the hypophysis, which are characterized by different proliferative capacity, thus indicating that the cellular function of parafibromin may not be reduced only to its anti-proliferative effect. [source]


Intralobular ducts of human major salivary glands contain leptin and its receptor

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 5 2002
R. De Matteis
Abstract Leptin, a 16-kDa hormone, plays an important role in the control of food intake and in energy homeostasis both in rodents and in man. Leptin is mainly produced and secreted by adipocytes, but other tissues and gastric glands have also recently been shown to produce it in a dual (endocrine and exocrine) mode. In addition, a leptin receptor has been detected in taste cells of mouse circumvallate papillae and in rat intestinal epithelium. These data prompted us to carry out a detailed study of human salivary glands as potential leptin-producing organs. Biopsies of salivary glands (submandibular and parotid) obtained from male and female patients during surgery for different clinical indications were subjected to immunohistochemical study for the presence of leptin, its functional receptor, insulin and glucagon. The presence and cellular distribution of glucocorticoid receptor in leptin-secreting cells were also investigated. Double immunohistochemical staining (silver,gold intensification and avidin,biotin,peroxidase) was used for the visualization of glucocorticoid receptor and leptin labelling, respectively. The results show that intralobular duct cells of submandibular and parotid glands are immunoreactive for leptin, leptin receptor and glucagon but not for insulin. Leptin was also detected in some microglobules in whole saliva obtained from four healthy volunteers. Co-localization for leptin, leptin receptor and glucocorticoid receptor in the same cell type suggested a functional relationship between glucocorticoid hormone and leptin secretion also at the level of the salivary glands. [source]


Histology and Mucin Histochemistry of The Digestive Tract of Yellow Catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 4 2009
X. J. Cao
Summary The histology and characteristics of mucins secreted by epithelial mucous cells of the digestive tract in yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco were investigated using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The digestive tract was divided into a pharynx, oesophagus, U-shaped stomach (with a cardiac, fundic and pyloric part) and intestine, composed of anterior intestine, middle intestine and posterior intestine, which consisted of a mucosa (epithelial layer), lamina propria-submucosa, muscularis and serosa. A large number of isolated longitudinal striated muscular bundles were present in the lamina propria-submucosa of pharynx. Goblet cells were observed throughout the digestive tract, except in the stomach. In the cardiac and fundic stomach, a plenty of gastric glands were observed, whereas they were absent in the pyloric part. Numerous mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the columnar epithelial cells of the intestine, especially of the anterior part. The epithelial mucous cells contained neutral or other two mixtures of acid and neutral mucins, the first being the most common. The neutral mucin was the only type of mucins in the stomach, anterior intestine and middle intestine. The results of this study will be helpful for understanding the digestive physiology and diagnosing some gastrointestinal diseases in yellow catfish. [source]


Rearing of pike-perch larvae using formulated diets , first success with starter feeds

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 12 2005
Teresa Ostaszewska
Abstract The present study evaluated the performance of two commercial diets: AgloNorse (AN) and BioKyowa (BK), and two experimental, formulated diets based on casein (C) or casein plus casein hydrolysates (CH) in rearing of pike-perch larvae (Sander lucioperca L.). All fish were 5 day old and control group was fed live Artemia nauplii. Fish were sampled periodically for histological comparison of morphological changes in the digestive tracts. Survival of fish fed Artemia nauplii, BK and AN was similar: 54.4%, 50.8% and 52.4%, respectively, while the fish fed formulated diets C and CH showed considerably lower survival: 28.4% and 21.6% respectively. After 5 weeks of rearing, the average body mass of fish ranged from 212±32 mg in Artemia fed group to 53.8±6.8 mg in C diet fed group. A considerable vacuolization of supranuclear zone in enterocytes of posterior intestine was observed in the larvae fed commercial diets. No anomalies in liver development were found. Hepatocytes of fish fed BK diet showed larger glycogen storage areas, compared with those occupied by lipids. The highest zymogen accumulation of pancreatic cytoplasm was observed in fish fed Artemia. In fish fed C and CH diets, anomalies in digestive system development were indicated by lower and less numerous intestinal folds, smaller hepatocytes, retarded development of gastric glands, and in CH group , also local fatty degeneration of liver. [source]


Overexpression of Human Telomerase RNA in Helicobacter pylori -infected Human Gastric Mucosa

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 11 2000
Kwon Hur
Telomerase, an enzyme associated with cellular immortality and malignancy, plays an important role in cellular immortalization and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, overexpression of the RNA component of the telomerase, called human telomerase RNA (hTR), has been demonstrated in various human cancers as an early event. The pattern of hTR expression following Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in human gastric mucosa was investigated by a radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) assay. Paraffin-embedded sections of 50 biopsy specimens taken from the gastric antrum of individual patients infected to different extents with H. pylori, as well as normal gastric mucosa, were studied. In normal gastric mucosa, only weak hTR expression was noted and the expression was limited to basal cells of the gastric glands. However, the degree of hTR expression gradually increased in parallel with the degree of H. pylori infection. The mean scores of gastric mucosa with mild, moderate and severe degrees of H. pylori infection were 2.3, 2.8, and 3.7 times higher than that of normal gastric mucosa, respectively. The results of this study suggested that up-regulation of hTR expression is a frequent and early event associated with H. pylori infection in the gastric mucosa and may play some role in gastric carcinogenesis. Sufficient synthesis of hTR during this early stage may be a prerequisite for telomerase reactivation to occur in gastric cancer. [source]