Close contacts between mast cells and nerve fibres in the human oxyntic mucosa

The study of mast cells and nerve fibres in routine biopsies of human oxyntic mucosa was performed with the use of microscopic and ultrastructural methods. Simultaneous visualization of mast cells with Alcian blue and nerves with anti S-100 antibody allowed to study contacts between these two elements of lamina propria. Approximately 17% of mast cells appose nerves in gastric mucosa, which is less than the number of such contacts in the gut reported by other authors. We have found no differences between histologically normal mucosa and gastritis in the aspect of the total number of mast cells per 1 mm2 of lamina propria, number of their contacts with nerves and the ratio of mast cells apposing nerves to the total amount of mast cells. The ultrastructural study revealed significant polymorphism of mast cell-neuron contacts as well as the absence of any specialized structures at the site of adhesion between these two types of cells. The mode of degranulation of mast cells suggests that they are actively engaged in the reaction to noxious stimuli challenging the oxyntic mucosa.