Abstract
Endocrine cells in a gastric polyp, which was removed by endoscopic polypectomy, were immunohistochemically investigated. Patient was 48 y. o male. The pedunculated polyp was located at the fornix of the stomach. Endoscopic congo red test revealed that the polyp was found in the oxyntic gland area and contained acid-secreting parts in itself. Endoscopically removed polyp was 13 × 11 × 9 mm in size and was histologically diagnosed as hamartomatous polyp, mainly consisting of numerous cystically dilated fundic glands. In order to elucidate the endocrinological background of the polyp, immunohistological studies on gastrin, somatostatin, glucagon and glicentin were performed by the immunoperoxidase method. Pronounced hyperplasia of somatostatin-containing cells and the presence of glucagon and glicentin-containing cells were demonstrated among the cystic component of the polyp, while gastrin-containing cells were absent. Our findings suggest that endocrine cells proliferate as a hamartomatous element, and that the polyp carries a character of fetal fundic mucosa, for gastric glucagon in man has been detected exclusively in the fetal gastric fundus. Since no immunohistochemical studies on gastrointestinal hormones in gastric polyps has been reported so far, the present work may contribute to the investigations on cell kinetics and pathogenesis of gastric polyp.
