Ultrastructure and secretory cycle of the gastrin-producing cell

Summary The gastrin-producing cells in the cat have been studied under various experimental conditions indicating the secretory cycle of these cells. Normal gastrin cells in animals fed ad libitum show secretory granules of different electron density. After fasting for 24 hrs the cells are granulated with electron dense secretory granules and after refeeding the cells are degranulated, showing clear secretory granules. The implication of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus in the secretory cycle is discussed on the basis of the ultrastructural findings.Supported by a grant from the Fonds national suisse de la Recherche scientifique, Berne, Switzerland.