Identification of glucagon-producing cells (A cells) in dog gastric mucosa

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Abstract
An immunocytochemical technique using specific antiglucagon serum reveals the presence of glucagon-containing cells situated exclusively in the oxyntic glandular mucosa of the dog stomach. EM examination of the mucosa demonstrated endocrine cells containing secretory granules with a round dense core surrounded by a clear halo, indistinguishable from secretory granules of pancreatic A cells. Like the .alpha.-granules of pancreatic A cells, the granules of these gastric endocrine cells exhibited a peripheral distribution of silver grains after Grimelius silver staining. The granules of these cells were found to be specifically labeled with reaction product, using the peroxidase immunocytochemical technique at the ultrastructural level. Accordingly, these cells were named gastric A cells. The gastric oxyntic mucosa may contain cells indistinguishable cytologically, cytochemically and immunocytochemically from pancreatic A cells. Gastric A cells may be responsible for the secretion of the gastric glucagon.