ONTOGENETIC STUDIES OF 5-HT IMMUNOREACTIVE CELLS IN THE HUMAN FETAL GUT——AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATION / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

5-HT immunoreactive cells(EC cells)in the gastrointestinal tract were studiedby immunogold silver staining method and PAP method in sixty human fetuses aged8-38 weeks of gestation.The results indicated that the appearance of EC cells wasas early as 8 weeks of gestation in the epithelium of duodenum.After 12 weeks ofgestation,the EC cells can be found in the whole human fetal gut.The number ofEC cells(EC cells with visible nucleus per visual field)at all period of gestationalways decreased in an order from the mucosa of duodenum,jejunum,ileum,ap-pendix,colon and stomach respectivly.EC cells in the mucosa of antrum often po-ssessed long processes contacted with other types of glandular cells.The EC cellswere open typed cells except those in the fundic mucosa.Grouped EC cells can alsobe seen in the mucosa of appendix and the intestinal glands.