THE HISTOGENESIS OF THE DIGESTIVE EPITHELIUM OF HUMAN EMBRYO AND FOETUS——Ⅰ. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARGENTAFFIN CELL
- VernacularTitle:人胚胎消化上皮组织发生的研究——Ⅰ.亲银细胞的发生
- Author:
Huanmin HU
;
Chengbin PAN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Acta Anatomica Sinica
1957;0(04):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The development of the argentaffin cell of the human gastro-intestinal tract is studied in 31 embryos and foetuses at closely graded stages of development. These cells are first seen in the epithelium of the duodenum at 47mm stage, but they do not assume their typical morphology. There are only a few argyrophile granule present around their nucleus. At the 89.3 mm stage the argentaffin cells appear in various parts of gastrointestinal tract and assume the typical morphology of infranuclear distribution of granules.The argentaffin cells assume various forms in sections: round, squamous, columnar, spindle, pyramidal, hammer-like, and flask-shaped. In gastric mucosa they are small, squamous or pyramical cells. They lie on the basal lamina with their apical ends not reaching to the stomach cavity. In intestine they are large columnar, spindle, pyramidal or flask-shaped cells. Their apical ends reach the luman. Sometimes their basal pole may penetrate to the lamina propria. In addition to these cells, in intestine there are also round argentaffin cells lacking luminal contact, with its argentaffin granules scattered here and there all over the cytoplasm. These difference in cell shape, granules distribution and luminal endings are likely related to the functional specialization, of argentaffin cell in different areas.Although most of the argentaffin cells are scattered singly in mucous epithelium, sometimes they may be present by twos and threes, and in appendix, they are often arranged in line. No argentaffin cell can be seen in any other part of the gut. They are differentiated in situ from epithelium. Therefore, we favor the idea that argentaffin cells are endodermal in origin.At the early embryo stage, the argentaffin cells are more numerous in villi, less numerous in intestinal crypt. As the embryo develops, they gradually increase in number both in villi and crypt (glands), but are more numerous in glands. In new born foetus the argentaffin cells are mainly scattered in glands.The argentaffin cells are very numerous in duodenum and particularly in appendix, less in stomach except pylorus. They are not found in esophagus.At various stages of development of the embryo the argentaffin cells are quite different in number. At the beginning, they are scarce. Following the development of embryos, their numbers increase rapidly and reach their maximum number at 21 weeks, 22 weeks and 23 weeks of age respectively. Thereafter the argentaffin cells decrease in number gradually, but they are still present at new born foetus.
