Within 1, 5, 10 and 30 min after a direct short-term electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, the amount of histochemically detectable EC-cells was counted and dynamics of changes in stereometric characteristics of their subcellular organelles were investigated in the antral part of the mucous membrane of the rat stomach. The maximum activation of mitochondria, Golgi complex, nucleus and nucleolus was observed within 1 min. A significant decrease in the volume and number of electron-dense secretum granules accompanied by a rise in number of vacuole-like granules occurred within 10 min, i. e. functional and metabolic activity of serotonin-producing EC-cells after vagostimulation increased earlier than the secretion of this monoamine started. The above changes in EC-cells were not accompanied by changes in their number in antral part. The data obtained elucidate the cellular mechanisms of neurohumoral regulation of secretory and trophic processes in the stomach.
Animals Cell Differentiation