Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s3-93, 385-390, Copyright © 1952 by Company of Biologists

Observations upon the Recovery of Oxyntic Cells after Prolonged Dosage with Pilocarpine or Histamine

¹ Department of Anatomy, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, Paddington, London, W. 2

1. New observations are presented concerning the structure and cytochemistry of the granules in the oxyntic cells of the rat,s stomach, in continuation of work already reported (Menzies, 1949, 1952 a and 6).

2. The phospholipine component of the granules is slowly regained after being depleted by multiple doses of pilocarpine or histamine.

3. The phospholipine is first regained by the granules in those oxyntic cells situated at the basal ends of the gastric tubules, and later by the remaining cells in the neck of the tubules.

4. An acid phosphatase appears in the oxyntic cells whose granules are about to regain their lipine component, and disappears some time after they have done so.

5. The order in which both the acid phosphatase and the lipine appears (first in the basal cells and later in cells in the neck region) is the same as that in which an acid phosphatase appears when and as the lipine is being shed under experimental conditions (Menzies, 1952 b).