HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON MUCOSUBSTANCE IN HUMAN GASTRIC CARCINOMA

Histochemical observations on mucosubstance are studied in total 270 specimens which are composed of 200 specimens (or 265 tissue blocks) of gastric carcinomas, 50 specimens of non-cancerous gastric tissues, and 20 specimens of duodenal and rectal tissues. The results are summariezd as follows: 1. In the normal and non-cancerous gastric mucoas, two types of mucosubstance are distinguished histochemically: Mucosubstance proper to gastric mucosa (stomach type or S-type) being stained various tints of red in colour by AB-PAS method (PAS-positive and AB-negative), and mucosubstance specific for goblet cells in the area of intestinal metaplasia (goblet type or G-type), being stained blue to purple by AB-PAS method (positive for both AB and PAS). 2. The incidence of G-type mucosubstance in gastric carcinoma tissues is unexpectedly high, amounting to 157 out of 200 specimens or 78.5 per cent; or 212 out of 265 blocks or 80.0 per cent. 3. The incidence of G-type mucosubstance in the early (intramucosal) carcinoma of the stomach is 51/65 (78.5%), and this is quite similar to that in the advanced carcinoma, 106/135 (78.5%). 4. According to these findings, a close relationship of G-type mucosubstance in the gastric carcinomas to the goblet cells of intestinal metaplasia is assumed, and a possible roll of the intestinal metaplasia in a histogenesis of the gastric carcinoma is considered.