Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantitative ultrastructural studies on rat gastric zymogen cells under different physiological and experimental conditions

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Quantitative electron microscopical measurements performed on gastric zymogen cells were aimed at determinations of size and volume density of the zymogen granules, and size of cell and nuclear profiles. 17 groups of rats each comprising 6–8 animals were investigated: five of these groups were used to study the influence of fasting and feeding, three groups were killed at different intervals after a pilocarpine injection, and four other groups were investigated after an atropine injection. The remaining five groups of rats were operated on: vagotomy was performed on one group, vagotomy + pyloroplasty on another, pyloroplasty on the third group, and antrectomy on the last two groups. The operated rats were sacrificed 4 or 10 weeks after the operations.

Pilocarpine was more effective than feeding in reducing the size and the amount of zymogen granules. After atropine the size and amount of zymogen granules tended to increase. Ten weeks after pyloroplasty, vagotomy + pyloroplasty, or antrectomy the mean size of the zymogen cells was reduced.

Loss of trophic vagal impulses, duodenal regurgitation, and abnormal serum gastrin levels are factors which might be responsible for the zymogen cell hypotrophy in operated rats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amsterdam, A., Jamieson, J.D.: Studies on dispersed pancreatic exocrine cells. I. Dissociation technique and morphologic characteristics of separated cell. J. Cell Biol. 63, 1037–1056 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Amsterdam, A., Ohad, I., Schramm, M.: Dynamic changes in the ultrastructure of the acinar cell of the rat parotid gland during the secretory cycle. J. Cell Biol. 41, 753–773 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bach, G.: Kugelgrößenverteilung und Verteilung der Schnittkreise; ihre wechselseitigen Beziehungen und Verfahren zur Bestimmung der einen aus der anderen. In: Quantitative methods in morphology, (E.R., Weibel and H., Elias, eds.), pp. 23–45. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolender, R.P.: Stereological analysis of the guinea pig pancreas. I. Analytical model and quantitative description of non-stimulated pancreatic exocrine cells. J. Cell Biol. 61, 269–287 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsöö, B, Danielsson, Å., Helander, H.F.: Effects of starvation on amylase storage in mouse pancreas and parotid gland. A biochemical and morphometric study. Acta hepat. (Hamburg) 21, 48–57 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cope, G.H., Williams, M.A.: Improved preservation of parotid tissue for electron microscopy. A method permitting the collection of valid Stereological data. J. Cell Biol 60, 292–297 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crean, G.P., Gunn, A.A., Rumsey, R.D.E.: Effects of vagotomy on the gastric mucosa of the rat. Scand. J. Gastroent. 4, 675–680 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eränkö, O.: Quantitative methods in histology and microscopic histochemistry. Basel: Karger 1955

    Google Scholar 

  • Håkansson, R., Kroesen, J.H., Liedberg, G.: Oscarson, J., Rehfeld, J.F., Stadil, F.: Correlation between serum gastrin concentration and rat stomach histidine decarboxylase activity. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 243, 483–498 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Helander, H.F.: Ultrastructure of fundus glands of the mouse gastric mucosa. J. Ultrastruct. Res., Suppl. 4, 1–123 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Helander, H.F.: Some observations on knife properties and sectioning mechanics during ultramicrotomy of plastic embedding media. J. Micr. 101, 81–93 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Helander, H.F.: Preliminary results from stereological studies on gastric zymogen cells in various functional states. Proc. Scand. Soc. for Electron Microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 57, 234 (1976a) (abstr.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Helander, H.F.: Preliminary studies on the effects of vagotomy and of antrectomy on the gastric zymogen cells. Proc. Scand. Soc. for Electron Microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 54, 486–487, (1976b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Helander, H.F.: Stereological changes in rat parietal cells following vagotomy and antrectomy. Gastroenterology 71, 1010–1018 (1976c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschowitz, B.I.: Secretion of pepsinogen. In: Handbook of physiology, Sect. 6, Vol. II (Code C.F., ed.), pp. 889–918, Washington, DC: American Physiological Society 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschowitz, B.I., O'Leary, D.K., Marks, I.N.: Effects of atropine on synthesis of pepsinogen in the rat. Amer. J. Physiol. 198, 108–112 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ichikawa, A.: Fine structural changes in response to hormonal stimulation of the perfused canine pancreas. J. Cell Biol. 24, 369–385 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito, S., Winchester, R.J.: The fine structure of the gastric mucosa in the bat. J. Cell Biol. 16, 541–577 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson, J.D., Palade, G.E.: Synthesis, intracellular transport, and discharge of secretory protein in stimulated pancreatic exocrine cells. J. Cell Biol. 50, 135–158 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, L.R., Lichtenberger, L.M., Copeland, E.M., Dudrik, S.J., Castro, G.A.: Action of gastrin on gastrointestinal structure and function. Gastroenterology 68, 1184–1192 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kataoka, K.: Electron microscopic observations on cell proliferation and differentiation in the gastric mucosa of the mouse. Arch. histol. jap. 32, 251–273 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Konwinski, M., Kozlowski, T.: Morphometric study of normal and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. Z. Zellforsch. 129, 500–507 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalewski, K., Scharf, R.: Effect of antrectomy on the response of stomach to histamine and pentagastrin in rats. Arch. int. Physiol. Biochem. 80, 35–43 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Langley, J.N.: On the histology of the mammalian gastric glands, and the relation of pepsin to the granules of the chief-cells. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 3, 269–291 (1881–2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Langley, J.N., Sewall, H.: On the changes in pepsin-forming glands during section. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 2, 281–301 (1879–80)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehy, T., Bonneford, A., Dubrasquet, M., Nasca, S., Lewin, M., Bonfils, S.: Comparative effects of antrocolic transposition and antrectomy on fundic mucosa and acid secretion in the rat. Gastroenterology 64, 421–428 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundell, L.: Alterations in secretory patterns following antrectomy in rats with Pavlov pouches. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 245, 734–754 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundell, L., Svensson, S.E.: Alterations in secretory patterns following vagotomy in rats with Pavlov or Heidenhain pouches. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 234, 703–721 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, F., Macleod, I.B., Sircus, W.: Effects of antrectomy on the fundic mucosa of the rat. Gastroenterology 59, 437–444 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nevalainen, T.J.: Effects of pilocarpine stimulation on rat pancreatic acinar cells. Acta path. microbiol. scand. Suppl. 210, 1–43 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehm, W.S.: Some aspects of the problem of gastric hydrochloric secretion. Arch. intern. Med. 129, 270–278 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith, A., Barnard, T., Rohr, H.P.: Stereology of cellular pattern. In: Critical reviews in toxicology, Vol. 4, Tissue 3 (L. Golberg, ed.), pp. 219–269. Cleveland: CRC Press Inc. 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, W., Ross, L.L., Sleisenger, M.H., Jeffries, G.H.: The normal human gastric epithelium. A fine structural study. Lab. Invest. 19, 598–626 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, R.J., Pfeiffer, C.J.: Ultrastructure of the gastric mucosa of normal laboratory ferrets: J. Ultrastruct. Res. 22, 45–62 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlin, T., Bloom, G.D., Carlsöö, B., Rhodin, L.: Effects of fasting and refeeding on secretory granules of the mouse gallbladder epithelium. Gastroenterology 70, 353–358 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, J.: The basophilic substance of the gastric chief cells and its relation to the process of secretion. Acta anat., Suppl. 31, 1–78 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibel, E.R., Bolender, R.P.: Stereological techniques for electron microscopic morphometry. In: Principles and techniques for electron microscopy, Vol. 3 (M.A., Hayat, ed.), pp. 237–296 New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibel, E.R., Stäubli, W., Gnägi, H.R., Hess, F.A.: Correlated morphometric and biochemical studies on the liver cell. I. Morphometric model, Stereological methods and normal morphometric data for rat liver. J. Cell Biol. 42, 68–91 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Westman, A.G., Helander, H.F.: Morphometric studies on gastric zymogen granules in atropinized rats. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 29, 576, 1969 (abstr.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Willems, G., Galand, P., Vansteenkiste, Y., Zeitoun, P.: Cell population kinetics of zymogen and parietal cells in the stomach of mice. Z. Zellforsch. 134, 505–518 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

    Herbert F. Helander

Authors
  1. Herbert F. Helander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research council (project no 12X-2298), M. Bergvalls Stiftelse, and Julins Fond. Excellent technical assistance was provided by Mrs. Sigrid Kilter and Miss Ulla Hedlund

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Helander, H.F. Quantitative ultrastructural studies on rat gastric zymogen cells under different physiological and experimental conditions. Cell Tissue Res. 189, 287–303 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209278

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209278

Key words

Search

Navigation