Summary
The tracheo-bronchial mucosa of the mouse has been found to contain an extensive system of argyrophilic epithelial cells. In the trachea the cells morphologically resemble enterochromaffin cells. Normally, these enterochromaffin-like cells contain no fluorogenic amine, as revealed by the Falck-Hillarp formaldehyde technique. On the other hand the cells have the capacity to take up and decarboxylate 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP); the amine formed is stored in the cytoplasm in a reserpine-sensitive store. This capacity to produce and store amines under experimental conditions may reflect the presence in the tracheal enterochromaffin-like cells of an amine which can not be demonstrated with available fluorescence histochemical techniques. In the electron microscope the tracheal enterochromaffin-like cells were identified by a positive argyrophil reaction and by their capacity to accumulate radioactivity after administration of 3H-DOPA or 3H-5-HTP as revealed by autoradiography. The radioactive labelling was associated with cytoplasmic electron-dense granules (800–1000 Å), suggesting that the amine formed was stored in these granules. Accordingly, the granules stained argentaffin after DOPA-pre-treatment of the animal. It is suggested that, like similar cells in the gastric mucosa, these argyrophilic enterochromaffin-like cells constitute an endocrine system in which amines are of cytophysiological importance.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aures, D., Håkanson, R., Owman, Ch.: Formation and storage of amines in endocrine cells of gastric mucosa. J. Neuro-Visc. Relations 31, 337–349 (1970).
Bensch, K. G., Corrin, B., Pariente, R., Spencer, H.: Oat cell carcinoma of the lung. Its origin and relationship to bronchial carcinoid. Cancer (Philad.) 22, 1163–1172 (1968).
—, Gordon, G. G., Miller, L. R.: Studies on the bronchial counterpart of the Kultschitzky (argentaffin) cell and innervation of bronchial glands. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 668–686 (1965).
Brindley, G. V., Bonnet, J. O.: Bronchial adenoma and the carcinoid syndrome. Ann. Surg. 165, 670–679 (1967).
Corrodi, H., Jonsson, G.: The formaldehyde fluorescence method for the histochemical demonstration of biogenic monoamines. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15, 65–78 (1967).
Di Mattei, P.: Occurrence of bradykinin in human pulmonary carcinoma. In: Symposium on vasoactive peptides (ed. M. Rocha e Silva). Oxford: Pergamon Press 1967.
Ericson, L. E.: Subcellular localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the parafollicular cells of the mouse thyroid gland. An autoradiographic study. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 31, 162–177 (1970).
Falck, B.: Observations on the possibilities of the cellular localization of monoamines by a fluorescence method. Acta physiol. scand. 56, Suppl. 197, 1–25 (1962).
—, Hillarp, N.-A., Thieme, G., Torp, A.: Fluorescence of catechol amines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10, 348–354 (1962).
—, Owman, Ch.: A detailed methodological description of the fluorescence method for the cellular demonstration of biogenic monoamines. Acta Univ. Lund. II 7, 1–23 (1965).
—: 5-Hydroxytryptamine and related amines in endocrine cell systems. Advanc. Pharmacol. 6, 211–231 (1968).
Feyrter, F.: Über die Pathologie peripherer vegetativer Regulation am Beispiel des Karzinoids und des Karzinoidsyndroms. In: Handbuch der allgemeinen Pathologie (eds.: F. Buchner, E. Letterer and F. Roulet), S. 344–423. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1966.
Forssmann, W. G., Orci, L., Pictet, R., Renold, A. E., Rouiller, C.: The endocrine cells in the epithelium of the gastrointestinal mucosa of the rat. J. Cell Biol. 40, 692–715 (1969).
Fröhlich, F.: Die “Helle Zelle” der Bronchialschleimhaut und ihre Beziehungen zum Problem der Chemorezeptoren. Frankfurt. Z. Path. 60, 517–559 (1949).
Gmelich, J. T., Bensch, K. G., Liebow, A. A.: Cells of Kultschitzky type in bronchioles and their relation to the origin of peripheral carcinoid tumor. Lab. Invest. 17, 88–98 (1967).
Grimélius, L.: A silver nitrate stain for α2 cells in human pancreatic islets. Acta Soc. Med. upsalien. 73, 243–270 (1968).
Håkanson, R.: New aspects of the formation and function of histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine in gastric mucosa. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 340, 1–134 (1970).
—, Lilja, B., Owman, Ch.: Properties of a new system of amine-storing cells in the gastric mucosa of the rat. Europ. J. Pharmacol. 1, 188–199 (1967).
—, Owman, Ch.: Concomitant histochemical demonstration of histamine and catecholamines in enterochromaffin-like cells of gastric mucosa. Life Sci. 6, 759–766 (1967).
—: Argyrophilic reaction of histamine-containing epithelial cells in murine gastric mucosa. Experientia (Basel) 25, 625–626 (1969).
—, Sjöberg, N.-O., Sporrong, B.: Amine mechanisms in enterochromaffin and enterochromaffin-like cells of gastric mucosa of various mammals. Histochemie 21, 189–220 (1970).
—, Sporrong, B., Sundler, F.: Electron microscopic classification of amine-producing endocrine cells by selective staining of ultra-thin sections. Histochemie 27, 226–242 (1971).
Larson, B., Owman, Ch., Sundler, F.: Monoaminergic mechanisms in parafollicular cells of the mouse thyroid gland. Endocrinology 78, 1109–1114 (1966).
Lauweryns, J. M., Peuskens, J. C.: Argyrophil (kinin and amine producing ?) cells in human infant airway epithelium. Life Sci. 8, 577–585 (1969).
—, Cokelaere, M.: Argyrophil, fluorescent and granulated (peptide and amine producing ?) AFG cells in human infant bronchial epithelium. Light and electron microscopic studies. Life Sci. 9, 1417–1429 (1970).
Lundquist, I., Ekholm, R., Ericson, L. E.: Monoamines in the pancreatic islets of the mouse. 5-Hydroxytryptamine as an intracellular modifier of insulin secretion and the hypoglycaemic action of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Diabetologia, in press (1971).
Melander, A., Owman, Ch., Sundler, F.: Effect of vitamin D2 stimulation on amine stores and secretory granules in the calcitonin cells of the mouse. Histochemie 25, 32–44 (1971a).
—: Concomitant depletion of dopamine and secretory granules from cells in the ultimobranchial gland of vitamin D2-treated chicken. Histochemie 25, 21–31 (1971b).
Owman, Ch.: Uptake and elimination of certain monoamines and their immediate precursors. Scandinavian Meeting of Pharmacologists, Lund 1965 (1965).
—, Sundler, F.: Indole metabolism in thyroid C cells of the mouse: Effects of thyrocalcitonin and thiouracil. In: Calcitonin. Proceedings of the Symposium on Thyrocalcitonin and the C cells (ed.: S. Taylor), p. 110–121, London: Heinemann 1968.
- - Unpublished observations (1971).
Pearse, A. G. E.: Common cytochemical properties of cells producing polypeptide hormones. with particular reference to calcitonin and the thyroid C cells. Vet. Rec. 79, 587–590 (1966).
—: Common cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of cells producing polypeptide hormones (the APUD series) and their relevance to thyroid and ultimobranchial C cells and calcitonin. Proc. roy. Soc. B 170, 71–80 (1968).
Pletscher, A., Gey, K. F.: The effect of a new decarboxylase inhibitor on endogenous and exogenous monoamines. Biochem. Pharmacol. 12, 223–228 (1963).
Shames, J. M., Okurandhar, M. R., Blackard, W. G.: Insulin-secreting bronchial carcinoid tumor with widespread metastases. Amer. J. Med. 44, 632–637 (1968).
Solcia, E., Vasallo, G., Sampietro, R.: Endocrine cells in the antro-pyloric mucosa of the stomach. Z. Zellforsch. 81, 474–486 (1967).
Toker, C.: Observations on the ultrastructure of a bronchial adenoma (carcinoid-type). Cancer (Philad.) 19, 1943–1948 (1966).
Vasallo, G., Solcia, E., Capella, C.: Light and electron microscopic identification of several types of endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa of the cat. Z. Zellforsch. 98, 333–356 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ericson, L.E., Håkanson, R., Larson, B. et al. Fluorescence and electron microscopy of amine-storing enterochromaffin-like cells in tracheal epithelium of mouse. Z. Zellforsch. 124, 532–545 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335256
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335256