Properties of isolated gastric enterochromaffin-like cells.

The gastric enterochromaffin-like cell (ECL) has been studied in gastric fundic glands by confocal microscopy and as a purified cell preparation by video imaging of calcium signaling and measurements of histamine release. Regulation of gastric acid secretion is largely due to alterations of histamine activation of the H2 receptor on the parietal cell and can be divided into central neural regulation, with direct actions of neuronally released mediators and into peripheral regulation by substances released from other endocrine cells. Gastric neuronal stimulation of acid secretion by alteration of ECL cell function is probably mediated by pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) receptors on the ECL cell, which activate calcium signaling and histamine release. Peripheral stimulation of acid secretion via the ECL cell is largely mediated by gastrin stimulation of calcium signaling and histamine release. Gastric neuronal inhibition of ECL cell function is probably mediated by galanin inhibition of calcium signaling, and histamine release and peripheral inhibition of ECL cell function is mainly due to somatostatin release from D cells.