TY - JOUR T1 - An Easy Method to Identify Parietal Cells in Gastric Biopsies JF - In Vivo JO - In Vivo SP - 599 LP - 602 VL - 24 IS - 4 AU - CARLOS A. RUBIO Y1 - 2010/07/01 UR - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/24/4/599.abstract N2 - Background: Sections from gastric biopsies are usually stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), a stain that is not optimal for the recognition of many parietal cells. This paper describes a more suitable routine stain to identify parietal cells. Patients and Methods: Nineteen sets of gastric biopsies were consecutively stained with H&E and with modified Giemsa. Giemsa-stained fundic biopsies showed a parietal cell band intercalated between the fovelar epithelium and the chief glands. The continuity of this band was studied at ×4 magnification and its thickness in one well-oriented field at ×10 magnification. Results: A distinct, continuous parietal cell band was recorded in fundic biopsies exhibiting normal mucosa, acute gastritis or chronic gastritis without glandular atrophy (Group A). A discontinuous or lack of parietal cell band was found in fundic biopsies exhibiting chronic gastritis with glandular atrophy or with intestinal metaplasia (Group B). The ratio of parietal cell band/total mucosal thickness ranged between 0.30 and 0.40 in Group A and between 0 and 0.25 in Group B. Conclusion: A parietal cell band was readily demonstrated in sections from gastric biopsies stained with Giemsa, but not in those stained with H&E. Discontinuity with reduced or absent band was recorded in gastric diseases characterised by a decrease of the parietal cell population. ER -