Hovedcellen

Hovedcellen (chief cell in English) is a secretory epithelial cell found in the lining of the stomach, predominantly in the fundic glands of the gastric body and fundus. It is one of several cell types in the gastric epithelium and plays a key role in digestion.

Morphology and secretions: Chief cells are generally pyramidal to columnar with basally located nucleus and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum. They contain apical zymogen granules that store pepsinogen and gastric lipase, the inactive precursors of digestive enzymes pepsin and lipase.

Function and activation: The primary function is the secretion of pepsinogen I and II and gastric lipase. Pepsinogen is activated to pepsin in the acidic gastric lumen, produced mainly by parietal cells, enabling proteolysis of proteins in the stomach.

Regulation and clinical notes: Secretion is influenced by neural and hormonal signals, notably acetylcholine from the vagus nerve and gastrin, with modulation by sympathetic input. Changes in chief cell activity can occur in various gastric conditions, and their secretory products contribute to the digestive environment.