Histamine and chromogranin A-derived peptides in rat stomach ECL cells

The ECL cells constitute the predominant endocrine cell population of the stomach. They secrete histamine which is a major stimulator of acid secretion. Chormogranin A (CgA)-derived peptides, such as pancreastatin, are co-secreted with histamine. In this thesis it was demonstrated that pancreastatin may serve as a reliable marker for ECL cell secretory activity in the rat. The function of pancreastatin and other CgA-derived peptides is however obscure, and therefore, attempts were made to develop a method for continuous monitoring of ECL-cell histamine in conscious rats. By using microdialysis it was demonstrated that histamine is secreted from ECL cells in response to gastrin and food and to a number of neuropeptides, such as PACAP, VIP and adrenaline. It could also be demonstrated that anaesthesia greatly impairs ECL-cell histamine secretion