REFLECTIONS ON THE NATURE 

 OF THE ENTEROCHROMAFFIN SUBSTANCE 



R. D. LILLIE 



Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University School 

 of Medicine,New Orléans, Louisiana (12) E. U. A. 



Summarizing, a catechol structure seeras more indicated thaa a hydroqui- 

 none structure. Any aminophenol structure, primary or secondary seems 

 contra-indicated. The resorcinol hypothesis seems untenable. Serotonin 

 is chemically and sometimes histochemically demonstrable in carcinoid 

 tumors, but its présence in normal enterochromaffin cells in demonstrable 

 amounts seems contra-indicated. The azo positive phénol in the entero- 

 chromaffin cells appears to be a distinct substance. 



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