Electron microscopic study of intercellular junctions in human gastric mucosa with special reference to their relationship to gastric ulcer

The development of gap junctions in the human gastric mucosa has been examined to see if there is any relation to gastric ulcer. Freeze fracture replicas were prepared from the endoscopic biopsy specimens of 20 patients with gastric ulcer (15 men and five women, aged 49 (13) years) and seven healthy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gut 1993-01, Vol.34 (1), p.86-89
Main Authors: Ohkusa, T, Yamamoto, M, Kataoka, K, Kyoi, T, Ueda, F, Fujimoto, H, Sasabe, M, Tamura, Y, Hosoi, H, Tokoi, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Digestive system
Female
Freeze Fracturing
Gastric Mucosa - ultrastructure
Humans
Intercellular Junctions - ultrastructure
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Stomach Ulcer - pathology
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Summary:The development of gap junctions in the human gastric mucosa has been examined to see if there is any relation to gastric ulcer. Freeze fracture replicas were prepared from the endoscopic biopsy specimens of 20 patients with gastric ulcer (15 men and five women, aged 49 (13) years) and seven healthy volunteers (four men and three women, aged 41 (19) years). Large fractured areas of lateral cell membranes of surface mucous cells were observed randomly at a direct magnification of 15,000 using electron microscopy. Small gap junctions were observed between gastric surface mucous cells in all healthy volunteers. Gap junctions in the patients with gastric ulcer were significantly fewer than in the healthy volunteers. In addition, gap junctions in patients with recurrent ulcer were significantly fewer than in those with first onset ulcer. There was no obvious relationship between age and the development of gap junctions in patients with gastric ulcer or in healthy volunteers. In areas of intestinal metaplasia, gap junctions were occasionally seen between absorptive cells of the villi, but not in the lateral membranes of goblet cells. These findings suggest that loss of intercellular communication via gap junctions is associated with gastric ulcer formation.
ISSN:0017-5749
1468-3288
1458-3288
DOI:10.1136/gut.34.1.86