Abstract
An improved histochemical method for the demonstration of chloride was employed in a study of the dog's gastric mucous membrane under different physiological conditions. It was hoped that with this sensitive method it would be possible to throw some light on the site and mode of formation of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice. A recent reconsideration of the problem by Hoerr 1 confirmed the theory developed by Harvey and Bensley 2 25 years ago. These workers believe that hydrochloric is formed in the outer portion of the lumen or in the foveolus of the gastric glands by the hydrolysis of some organic chloride formed, stored and secreted by the parietal cells. In support of this theory chloride in large amounts has been demonstrated in these cells by methods which, however, have been considered by some investigators to be of questionable value. 3 Opposed to this theory are the findings of Lopez-Suarez 4 and Lison 5 who claim that the parietal cells contain less chloride than the other types of cells in the fundic glands. These opposing views emphasize the need for a reinvestigation, with more reliable methods, of the distribution of chloride in the gastric mucous membrane.
The method used in this investigation for the histochemical identification of chloride 6 is believed to visualize this ion accurately very nearly in the position which it occupies during life. Small pieces of gastric mucous membrane of dogs are carefully freed of the external coats of smooth muscle, and frozen in liquid nitrogen. They are dried in a vacuum chamber maintained at −60°C. or at −62°C.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.