Fig. 5.

Comparison of ICC distribution between corpus and fundus and regional distribution of ICC in part of human stomach. In HE staining (Aa), the whole layers of human gastric corpus from lesser curvature are demonstrated. In corpus lesser curvature, c-Kit positive ICC is also found in all the layers (A). ICC numbers are compared between fundus greater curvature (B) and corpus greater curvature (C). There is no significant difference between two regions except for ICC from submucosa. The average number of ICC is 8±0.7 count/unit area in submucosa of fundus greater curvature, which is significantly higher than 4.1±0.7 count/unit area of body greater curvature (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the density of ICC in muscularis mucosa is significantly less than that of other layers of fundus (submucosa and myenteric area) and corpus (circular muscle, myenteric area and longitudinal muscle) (p<0.05; (5B) and (5C)). However, the density of ICC in muscularis mucosa is less than that of other layer with no significant difference (p>0.05; (5B) and (5C)). Arrow: processes or ramification, arrow head: central cell body, double arrow head: ICC in septa (ICC-SEP).