Emiocytotic granule release without intraluminal stimulus in human colonic endocrine cells of fetuses, children and adults.

In endocrine cells of the colon of adults, children and fetuses, exocytotic granule release without any specific stimulation is reported. Omega-invaginations are observed on both the lateral and basal surfaces of all types of colonic endocrine cells. Several explanations for the phenomenon are suggested: 1) emiocytosis is probably more frequent in the colon than in the proximal gut, this allows its observation without requiring an exogenous stimulus, 2) since most of the exocytotic figures are from anaesthetized subjects it is also assumed that contraction of the muscular layer induced by anaesthetics and the resulting increase in intraluminal pressure were the possible causes of granule release, 3) in non-anaesthetized subjects release may have taken place in response to a normal endogenous physiological stimulus, or to the dilation of colon during colonoscopy. Certain figures on lateral surfaces between endocrine and adjacent cells i.e., bulges of parallel plasma membranes surrounding a secretory granule, were observed. Their significance is unknown.