ON THE EXPERIMENTAL DISCHARGE OF THE GASTRIC AND INTESTINAL ARGENTAFFIN CELLS

Reserpine discharges the azo positive reducing substance from both gastric and intestinal basal granular cells in the guinea pig. Regeneration was slower than in previous reports and apparently more rapid in the duodenum than in the stomach or ileum. The numbers of cells demonstrated in the normal duodenum and ileum respectively, as well as in the duodenum and ileum of the 7 day post reserpine animal, do not correspond particularly closely with the 5-hydroxytryptamine assays. Physostigmine and ephedrine failed to discharge the reactive material from basal granular cells of the guinea pig stomach and intestine. Argyrophil cells persist throughout the reserpine discharge period, during which argentaffin, azo positive basal granular cells are not demonstrable.