The frequency of gastric pyloric cells with glassy cytoplasm in baboons. A comparison with human subjects.

BACKGROUND Pyloric cells with "glassy" cytoplasm were detected 20 years ago in the human gastric mucosa, and subsequently in the gastric mucosa of two baboons and of transgenic mice. These pyloric cells, called glassy cells (GCs) show a homogeneous, eosinophilic material that pushes the nucleous towards the free border of the cell. MATERIALS AND METHODS The frequency of baboons having pyloric glands with GCs was assessed in the stomachs of 92 consecutive animals, dying of non-gastrointestinal disorders. RESULTS High power examination of the apparently normal gastric mucosa revealed that 10.9% (n=10) of the 92 baboons had GCs. Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and PAS-diastase stains suggested that the glassy material might be a glycoprotein. CONCLUSION The relatively high frequency of GCs in the gastric mucosa of baboons suggests that this animal might be a useful model for investigating the effect of the environment in the development of GCs, as well as ascertaining the true nature of the retained "glassy" material.