The uniqueness of the parietal cells of the stomach lies in the fact that they are the only ones in the human body that can transfer contact with hydrochloric acid to the maximum level. After all, it is they who produce it. The number of parietal cells of the stomach is not high - on average 1 billion in men and 0.8 billion in women, but they have an invaluable role in creating gastric juice.
The structure of the stomach
In order to have an idea of the work of glands and cells in the human digestive tract, you need to familiarize yourself with its structure. The stomach is an organ composed of muscles and glands. Inside the organ is covered with a mucous membrane consisting of 3 layers. The first layer is smooth muscles, then comes the layer of connective tissue and epithelial cells. In the last mucous membrane and are all the glands that produce elements of gastric juice. They consist of three types of cells.
The glands, consisting of the main cells, produce pepsinogenes and chymosin. The second type of cells is the parietal cells of the stomach, they are engaged in the synthesis of hydrochloric acid and gastromucoprotein. They are also called covering. The third group of cells is incremental. They produce mucoid secretion.
There is another small group of cells, but they are not in the stomach itself, but in the pylorus. They are engaged in the production of gastrin.
In fact, there are many more cells and glands in the stomach. And some of them are still not fully understood. The glands in the stomach are different, but basically they are tubular formations with an internal lumen no thicker than the capillary. They can be single or branching.
The purpose of the stomach
It may seem that the answer to the question about the purpose of the stomach is obvious - digestion of food. But this is not complete information. The human stomach not only crushes and splits pieces of food, it also stores it. The stomach does not participate in peristalsis, unlike the intestines, it does not move, and food can lie in it for a very long time. The only thing that makes her move is the wave-like movements of the walls of the stomach.
That is why it is very important that gastric juice is as effective as necessary for the complete dissolution of food. You also need to understand that the mobility of the walls of the stomach depends on the saturation of the gastric juice with hydrochloric acid.
Location of parietal cells
Parietal cells of the stomach grow on the fundus gland, or rather on its outer side. The gland belongs to the main one and is located at the bottom of the stomach and in the intermedia zone.
Parietal cells of the stomach secrete from 16 to 22 mmol of hydrochloric acid for gastric juice. In the male body, it is produced more - an average of 25-26 mmol, and in women 17-18 mmol.
How is the formation of hydrochloric acid?
Parietal cells of the glands of the stomach are activated by the action of histamine, gastrin and acetylcholine. These hormones enter the cells with the bloodstream and act on it through special receptors.
At the molecular level, hydrochloric acid is formed during the transfer of potassium ions through intercellular membranes and their exchange for hydrogen ions in the lumen of the gland.
Hydrochloric acid is finally synthesized by reaction with chlorine ions. And, of course, a chemical reaction would not have been possible without prostaglandin and somatostatin.
Antibodies to parietal cells
Parietal cells of the gastric mucosa have natural enemies - antibodies (AT). The latter can destroy the structure of the parietal cell and prevent it from absorbing vitamin B12, which will necessarily negatively affect the state of the whole organism. Well, we must not forget about the main function of the cell. When destroyed by antibodies, it can no longer produce hydrochloric acid.
When antibodies to parietal cells of the stomach destroy almost their entire population, a person develops conditions such as antral or hypoacid gastritis, malabsorption, iron deficiency and pernicious anemia. All this in turn leads to disruption of the nervous system and many organs.
Antibodies to parietal cells of the stomach are the causes of autoimmune gastritis in 90% of all patients with this diagnosis. They also cause pernicious anemia and atrophic gastritis.
In other words, exceeding the norm of antibodies to parietal cells of the stomach leads to serious diseases of not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also other human systems and organs. Up to the central nervous system.
Who is assigned an AT test?
Blood for antibodies to parietal cells of the stomach is taken for analysis in certain cases:
- As part of the diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis.
- When trying to establish pernicious anemia in a patient.
- If iron deficiency anemia is suspected.
- With ulcerative gastritis.
- When examining the causes of low levels of vitamin B12 in human blood.
Indications for analysis on AT can be such external signs as pallor of the human skin, dizziness, weakness in the arms and legs, periodic loss of consciousness, discoloration of the surface of the tongue - it turns bright red.
Preparation for AT analysis
To obtain an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to properly prepare for the delivery of tests for antibodies to the parietal cells of the stomach:
- Eight hours before donating blood for analysis, it is forbidden to eat and drink, so you need to take an analysis in the morning, after a night's sleep.
- 30 minutes before blood sampling, you need to calm your nervous system. Nervousness can change the level of blood hormones, and therefore, increase or decrease the activity of parietal cells.
- 24 hours before the analysis, alcohol and preferably cigarette smoking should be discarded.
- The day before visiting the laboratory, you need to minimize physical activity. If a person’s work is physical, you need to take a day off on this day.
- 3-4 days before the analysis, you must stop taking any medications, especially hormonal drugs. If this is not possible, then you need to warn the doctor about this.
What causes elevated antibody levels?
The normal value of AT is considered a ratio of 1:40. If it is not fulfilled, then the level is considered elevated. There are falsely elevated values. They are recorded in cases of elevated levels of heterophilic antibodies in the blood.
A high level of antibodies may indicate that the patient is likely to have autoimmune gastritis. This is recorded in almost 90% of all cases. Another reason for determining the frequency is thyroid disease. This pathology is recorded in 30% of all studied.
Also, such a level of antibodies can give an oncological disease of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, Addison's disease, Vitiligo syndrome and other systemic abnormalities. Iron deficiency anemia is a consequence of a high AT content.
Other diagnostic methods
A gastroenterologist, hematologist or therapist is involved in stomach problems. And if there is a suspicion of abnormalities in the work of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, the analysis does not end with the analysis of antibodies to the parietal cells of the stomach alone.
To obtain more complete and accurate information about the state of the body and the organ of interest, a person passes a number of tests and passes several tests on special equipment.
The patient's blood is examined for the content of vitamin B12 and B9. In samples of gastric juice, the amount of gastrin, pepsinogen and homocysteine is determined. In addition, a blood test for ESR is performed.
Instrumental research includes gastroendoscopy - a procedure in which a special probe equipped with a video camera is inserted into the patient’s stomach. And the mandatory study of the walls of the stomach using ultrasound.
Magnetic resonance imaging can provide more complete information, but, unfortunately, such equipment is not available in all clinics.
Prevention of diseases caused by violation of the level of parietal cells of the stomach
The content of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice balances in a very thin range of normal. Any external impact on a person can lead to a malfunction of the parietal cells of the stomach. Therefore, to prevent such situations, a number of preventive measures must be observed.
First of all, you need to understand that all processes in the body are regulated by hormones, and the endocrine system responds to stress. In order for all body systems to function correctly, you need to take care of your nervous system - do not be nervous, smile more and observe a sleep pattern. The enemies of modern man are lack of sleep and stress. At the first symptoms of anemia - weakness, nervousness, dizziness, you should immediately inform your doctor. Everyone knows that treating the disease is much easier in the initial stages.