Ultrastructural identification of round-granule EC cells in rabbit fundic mucosa

In endocrine (EC) cells of rabbit fundic mucosa, it is practically impossible to obtain unequivocal ultrastructural identification of all cells found in order to perform morphometric analysis. In addition to classic EC cells with pleomorphic granules, a cell type with entirely round granules is encountered which can be confused with non-EC cells. To solve this problem, all EC cells in our study were first identified by their 5-HT (immunocytochemistry) and argentaffinity. Examination of the fine structures of reactive cells then revealed that the round granules of EC cells were differentiated from those of non-EC cells by the existence of a dense core surrounded by a less dense halo, a feature providing unequivocal ultrastructural identification. EC cells with round granules showed less argentaffinity and less immunoreactivity to 5-HT as compared with classic EC cells. After labelling with [3H]L-dopa, EC cells with round-granules displayed an overall staining index higher than that of classic EC cells and comparable with that of D cells; however, the nuclear staining index was higher than that of D cells.