RESUMO
Objective To explore the expression of MUC-1 (one mucin) in the gastric mucosa of human fetus at different developmental stages and elucidate the relationship between MUC-1 expression and the cytodifferentiation of gastric epithelia. Methods HE staining and immunohistochemistry methods were used. Results The differentiation of the fetal gastric epithelial cells could be divided into three stages, the undifferentiated (S1), the differentiating (S2), and the growing stages (S3). MUC-1 appeared in cell apex of all undifferentiated cells in S1. In S2, MUC-1 appeared in cell apex and cytoplasm in the differentiating cuboidal epithelial cells.In the S3, MUC-1 focused on the glands, especially in the basal cells of glands.Conclusion There was different expression of MUC-1 at various developmental stages of gastric epithelia.