Innervation of rat antral gastrin-producing cells

The innervation of rat antral gastrin-producing cells (G-cells) was studied by light and electron microscopy. Combination of histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase and immunofluorescence for gastrin in the same tissue section showed apparent contact between some of the G-cells and acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves. Electron microscopic observation, however, revealed gaps of 200-500 nm or more between the G-cells and the closest nerve axons which often contained large dense-cored vesicles. The latter may represent the storage sites for neuropeptides previously localized by immunohistochemistry in gastric nerves.