Abstract
The serous cells in the basal portion of the intestinal glands, viz. PANETH cells, were classified into two types, A. cells with granules and B. cells with vacuoles, and the former type was again sub-divided into three, 1. cells with gross granules, 2. cells with small granules and 3. cells with micro-granules. The distribution of the cells belonging to these types was tabulated on a percentage basis counting 15 cells per one intestinal gland, and the secretory activity of PANETH cells was studied experimentally. The small intestines, on the other hand, were divided into four regions, the duodenum, the superior region (6-7cm from the pylorus), the median region and the inferior region (5-6cm superior side from the ostium ileocaecale).
The findings obtained are as follows.
1. The secretory activity of PANETH cells does not differ according to the different region of the small intestines.
2. In normal rats, cells with granules and cells with vacuoles increase copiously at periods of 1/2, 1, 11/2, 2hrs. after administration of the diet, and decrease remarkably pro tempore 3hrs. after the diet. The vigorous production of secretory substance and then the vigorous discharge of it can be seen in PANETH cells during 3hrs. after the diet.
3. In case of the injection of sesame oil into the stomach after the ligation of the pylorus, the remarkable production of secretory substance can be seen in PANETH cells regardless of the region of the small intestines, however the discharge of the substance from the cells is almost negligible.
4. The subcutaneous injection of histamine⋅2HCl (0.3% 1cc) causes in PANETH cells of normal rats a remarkably similar secretory activity to that obtained by the injection of sesame oil into the stomach after the ligation of the pylorus.
5. The injection of histamine⋅2HCl (10% 1cc) into the stomach causes in PANETH cells of normal rats a remarkably similar production of secretory substance to that obtained by the subcutaneous injection of histamine and considerable discharge of it from the cells.
As a result of these findings, it may be assumed that the secretory activity of PANETH cells, especially production of secretory substance in the cells, is initiated without regard to the region of the small intestines and to the carrying of the diet into the small intestines, and that this secretory activity seems to be caused by a humoral stimulant from the stomach, viz. the histamine-like gastric hormone productin of FUJIE.
