Electron microscopy of a ciliated cell in the human stomach

Abstract

A ciliated cell was observed electron microscopically in a pyloric gland with intestinal metaplasia. This specimen was obtained from the gastric antrum of a 61-year-old man suffering from gastric cancer. The cell had flask-like contour and possessed numerous cilia protruding from the free surface of a deeply indented cytoplasm into the glandular lumen. Most cilia were similar in structure to normal kinocilia and had nine peripheral doublets and two central microtubules (9 + 2 configuration). Some cilia, however, showed varying configurations, such as 9 + 0,9 + 3, or 9 + 4. The occurrence of ciliated cell in human stomach may be related to the disturbance of cellular differentiation of the gastric primordial cells during metaplastic change.