LOCALIZATION OF LACTOFERRIN IN GASTRIC MUCOSA

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to study immunocytochemical localization of lactoferrin on the sections of resected stomach by unlabeled antibody peroxydase-anti-peroxydase (PAP) method. Antilactoferrin which was used in this study was prepared in our laboratory from rabbit immunized with lactoferrin isolated from normal human colostrum. Lactoferrin was located in the neck cells of fundic glands as well as pyrolic glands. And also the bottom of fundic glands contained lactoferrin. These lactoferrin-positive cells had an ability of producing mucin which was identified by PAS staning. They were not always detectable in all the cases examined. It was of note that the lactoferrin producing cells were close contacts with distribution of lymphoid cells in the mucosa. They were found exclusively in the neighborhood of the lymphoid infiltrations, especially lymph follicles. From these data, the functional relationship between lactoferrin and lymphocytes of gastric mucosa was strongly suggested.