THE GASTRIC MUCOSA 



207 



hidden by the numerous overlapping oxyntic cells. This 

 seems to be a very characteristic feature in the rabbit and 

 accounts for the shape of the cells being very irregular. These 

 cells occupy the superficial three-fourths of the tubule, but 

 there is a good deal of intermingling with peptic cells. The 

 deep portion of the tubule rarely shows mucoid cells. This is 

 best shown in iron-haematoxyhn-stained sections of the actively 

 secreting stomach, the presence of the overlapping oxyntic 

 cells making it difficult to examine the more centrally situated 

 cells. In the above preparations the peptic cells alone are 

 clearly stained on account of the marked development in them 

 of ergastoplasmic fibres. The mucoid cells are left unstained 

 by iron haematoxylin. The proportion of mucoid to peptic 

 elements in each tubule varies in different parts of the fundus ; 

 from two-thirds to four-fifths of the whole tubule may be 

 mainly mucoid. 



Frog (Eana temp or aria). — In the frog's stomach only 

 oxyntic and mucoid cells are to be seen. The latter have 

 a clear cytoplasm which stains a faint blue with Mallory. 

 They are found in the superficial third of the gland-tube and 

 rarely extend to the deeper parts. 



The Cardiac and Pyloric Mucoid Cells. 



The cells forming the cardiac and pyloric glands are so 

 similar in appearance and staining reactions that they may be 

 grouped together for consideration. They differ from the 

 mucoid cells of the fundus in their regular shape and in some- 

 times exhibiting a red-staining reticulum with Mallory. The 

 extent of the cardiac and pyloric zones along the two curvatures 

 of the stomach have been measured and are set forth below. 



^ Oxyntic cells small and primitive. 



