On the histoenzymology of the human stomach

By means of histochemical methods, the stomach in the man was studied for some oxidoreducing enzymes and hydrolases. The surface epithelium displays in the fundic area a mean activity which grows intense in the pyloric area. The parietal cells show a very high mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, while the chief ones display a moderate oxidative activity. The pyloric glands exhibit a positive reaction for oxidoreducing enzymes with great differences of intensity from one cell to another. Around each principal and pyloric gland one can see an intense ATP-ase reaction in the endothelium of vessels and a very intense acid phosphate activity in the histiocytes. The submucosa, muscularis externa and serosa are very active for oxidoreduction and ATP-ase.