Primary culture of human antral endocrine cells

The mucosal endocrine cells in the antrum are found as individual elements interspersed among the other epithelial cells (i.e., mucin cells) (Fig. 1). In order to establish the factors regulating endocrine cell function, these cells have to be separated not only from the surrounding epithelial cells, but also from circulating and neuronal elements within the stomach. Fig. 1. A section of human antrum immunostained using the peroxidase method to localize the gastrin-immunoreactive endocrine cells (arrows). Note that the cells are grouped in the mid-third of the mucosa with no immunoreactive cells at the top of the gastric pits (GP) (×100).