We performed histological and histochemical investigations on the glands distributed in the lamina propria mucosae of the fowl esophagus and demonstrated their actual characteristics.
1. Glandular cells of the compound tubular glands located in the lamina propria mucosae contained a number of fine pepsinogen granules.
2. Reactions to neutral, weak and strong acid mucopolysaccharides, neutral mucus type II and III and sialomucin were evidently positive in these cells.
3. Based on the facts in 1) and 2), we consider that the glands located in the fowl esophagus are undifferentiated gastric glands.
4. The same glands possessed no parietal cells.
5. We demonstrated that the esophageal cardiac glands in the lamina propria mucosae of human esophagus were undifferentiated gastric glands, and they possessed parietal cells. These glands were confirmed in humans alone among the mammalia.
6. The significance of the existence of the same kind of gland in human and fowl esophagus is extremely important.
7. PAS-positive substance in the above-mentioned glands in the fowl esophagus contains sulfuric, acid, neutral mucopolysaccaride and neutral mucus of type II and III but no glycogen.
The compound tubular glands distributed in the lamina propria mucosae of the fowl esophagus have been described as mucous glands. We performed histochemical investigation and demonstrated that these glands were undifferentiated gastric glands.