BACKGROUND: Glands with glassy cells (GGCs) were recently found in 1.8% of patients showing Barrett's mucosa in esophageal biopsies. Similar GGCs were more recently detected in a baboon having glandulo-metaplastic esophageal mucosa (GMEM). The aim was to assess the frequency of baboons with GMEM having GGCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GGCs were sought in 68 consecutive baboons having GMEM. Sections were stained with H&E, and with alcian blue (pH 2.5) to detect sialomucins in goblet cells (a marker of Barrett's mucosa in GMEM). RESULTS: Two out of the 68 baboons with Barrett's mucosa (2.9%) showed GGCs. CONCLUSION: In similarity to humans, the Barrett's mucosa in baboons may show GGCs. Although the significance of GGCs in baboons (and in humans) remains poorly understood, their presence might not be a fortuitous event but may be linked to the molecular events leading to the development of intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's mucosa, a known pre-neoplastic mucosal change in the distal esophagus in humans.
BACKGROUND: Glands with glassy cells (GGCs) were recently found in 1.8% of patients showing Barrett's mucosa in esophageal biopsies. Similar GGCs were more recently detected in a baboon having glandulo-metaplastic esophageal mucosa (GMEM). The aim was to assess the frequency of baboons with GMEM having GGCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GGCs were sought in 68 consecutive baboons having GMEM. Sections were stained with H&E, and with alcian blue (pH 2.5) to detect sialomucins in goblet cells (a marker of Barrett's mucosa in GMEM). RESULTS: Two out of the 68 baboons with Barrett's mucosa (2.9%) showed GGCs. CONCLUSION: In similarity to humans, the Barrett's mucosa in baboons may show GGCs. Although the significance of GGCs in baboons (and in humans) remains poorly understood, their presence might not be a fortuitous event but may be linked to the molecular events leading to the development of intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's mucosa, a known pre-neoplastic mucosal change in the distal esophagus in humans.
Authors: G Faller; R Berndt; F Borchard; C Ell; K-H Fuchs; H Geddert; L Gossner; T Günther; T Kirchner; H K Koch; C Langner; J Lüttges; A May; S Müller; G Oberhuber; G Seitz; M Stolte; A Tannapfel; M Vieth; A Walch; J Rüschoff Journal: Pathologe Date: 2003-01-15 Impact factor: 1.011