Basic Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2006; 12(35): 5674-5679
Published online Sep 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i35.5674
Localization of ANP-synthesizing cells in rat stomach
Chun-Hui Li, Li-Hui Pan, Chun-Yu Li, Chang-Lin Zhu, Wen-Xie Xu
Chun-Hui Li, Chang-Lin Zhu, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China
Li-Hui Pan, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China
Chun-Yu Li, Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital for Anus and Intestines Diseases, Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China
Wen-Xie Xu, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Chun-Hui Li, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, Hebei Province, China. chli612@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-314-2270237 Fax: +86-314-2274895
Received: February 17, 2006
Revised: June 11, 2006
Accepted: June 16, 2006
Published online: September 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To study the morphological positive expression of antrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-synthesizing cells and ultrastructural localization and the relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in the stomach of rats and to analyze the distribution of the three histologically distinct regions of ANP-synthesizing cells.

METHODS: Using immunohistochemical techniques, we studied positive expression of ANP-synthesizing cells in rat stomach. A postembedding immunogold microscopy technique was used for ultrastructural localization of ANP-synthesizing cells. Microvessel density in the rat stomach was estimated using tannic acid-ferric chloride (TAFC) method staining. Distribution of ANP-synthesizing cells were studied in different regions of rat stomach histochemically.

RESULTS: Positive expression of ANP-synthesizing cells were localized in the gastric mucosa of rats. Localization of ANP-synthesizing cells identified them to be enterochrochromaffin cells (EC) by using a postembedding immunogold electron microscopy technique. EC cells were in the basal third of the cardiac mucosa region. ANP-synthesizing cells existed in different regions of rat stomach and its density was largest in the gastric cardiac region, and the distribution order of ANP-synthesizing cells in density was cardiac region, pyloric region and fundic region in mucosa layer. We have also found a close relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in gastric mucosa of rats using TAFC staining.

CONCLUSION: ANP-synthesizing cells are expressed in the gastric mucosa. EC synthesize ANP. There is a close relationship between ANP-synthesizing cells and microvessel density in gastric mucosa of rats.The distribution density of ANP-synthesizing cells is largest in the gastric cardiac region.

Keywords: Antrial natriuretic peptide-synthesizing cells; Microvessel density; Close relationship; Gastric cardiac region