G cell

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G cells, or gastrin cells, are cells in the stomach and duodenum that release the hormone gastrin. They are mainly found deep in the pyloric glands of the stomach’s antrum, and occasionally in the pancreas and duodenum.

The vagus nerve stimulates G cells through gastrin-releasing peptide, and amino acids in the stomach as well as bombesin can also trigger gastrin release.

Gastrin causes enterochromaffin-like cells to secrete histamine and also directly stimulates parietal cells to produce more stomach acid (HCl).

G cells have a distinctive look with centrally located nuclei in the middle portion of the gastric glands. They may express PD-L1 to help protect them from immune destruction by Helicobacter pylori.