Biological Significance of Phospholipids in the Rat Stomach–From the Viewpoint of Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The structures of gastric phospholipids (PLs) were further confirmed by employing an improved fixative and fixation method. PLs were detected on the free surface of superficial mucous epithelial cells and epithelial cells of the foveolar crypts. PLs were also detected inside superficial mucous cells and epithelial cells of the foveolar crypts. The gastric PLs were secreted through a merocrine-like mechanism. Apocrine-like secretion of PLs was also observed in some electron microscopic images. PLs were observed in the intercellular and intracellular secretory canaliculi of parietal cells and also in the rest of the parietal cytoplasm. The above findings indicated the localization of PLs on the surface of the gastric lumen and in the gastric mucosa, and suggested that, similar to gastric glycoproteins, gastric PLs play an important role in the gastric mucous barrier and mucosal barrier.

Key Words:

• Mucosal barrier
• mucous barrier
• phospholipid