Gastric and duodenal biopsies from 90 patients with various acid peptic disorders-reflux esophagitis (n = 24), gastric ulcer (n = 13), duodenal ulcer (n = 47) and nonulcer dyspepsia (n = 6)-were examined. Seven patients with minimal dyspeptic symptoms and an endoscopically and histologically normal stomach and duodenum served as controls. Immunoperoxidase staining for gastrin-producing G cells, somatostatin-producing D cells and serotonin-producing EC cells was carried out on fundic, antral and duodenal biopsies, and was quantified using a Zeiss MOP Videoplan using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique of Sternberger. In the gastric antrum, a G:D:EC cell ratio of approximately 1.6:1:1-was observed. In the duodenum the corresponding ratio was 1:1:2.4. No significant differences were observed within any of the major diagnostic categories. Patient age, sex, duration of symptoms, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use had no effect on endocrine cell densities. Reduced G cell density in the descending duodenum was observed in the presence of mild duodenitis in four patients. In four patients with evidence of antral intestinal metaplastic changes, a significant increase in duodenal G cell densities was found. These results suggest that a change in the number of G, D or EC cells does not play a primary role in the pathophysiology of acid peptic disorders in the majority of patients.
It is controversial whether there is a correlation between serum gastrin concentrations and the density of G cells in the antral or duodenal mucosa. In this study, endoscopically obtained antral and duodenal biopsies were stained immunocytochemically for gastrin and the G cells quantitated using an MOP Videoplan computer image analysis system. Studies were performed in 20 patients with acid-peptic disorders (gastric ulcer, n=5; duodenal ulcer, n=10; reflux esophagitis, n=4; and nonulcer dyspepsia, n=1). Correlations between antral and duodenal G cell densities, and basal- and food-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations within the normal range (less than 100 mg/L) – but not in those with elevated gastrin concentrations – support the postulate that alterations in G cell function are important in patients with acid-peptic disorders.
Standard therapeutic approaches to acid peptic disorders have dealt with neutralizing or inhibiting aggressive factors and/or bolstering defensive factors. Gastric and duodenal mucosal biopsies were examined from 90 patients with various acid peptic disorders, as follows: reflux esophagitis (n=24), gastric ulcer (n=13), duodenal ulcer (n=47) and nonulcer dyspepsia (n=6). Seven patients with minimal dyspeptic symptoms and an endoscopically and histologically normal stomach and duodenum served as controls. Immunoperoxidase staining for gastrin-producing G cells, somatostatin-producing D cells and serotonin-producing EC cells was carried out on fundic, antral and duodenal biopsies, and quantitated using a Zeiss MOP videoplan. No significant effects secondary to treatment with antacid, ranitidine or cimetidine were observed on endocrine cell densities and ratios. Biopsies obtained on different occasions over time indicated that in patients on enprostil (a synthetic E2prostaglandin), there was a trend towards increasing cell counts, suggesting that the serum gastrin-lowering effect of this drug may result from inhibition of gastrin release. Thus, H2-receptor antagonists and antacids do not alter gastric or duodenal mucosal G, D or EC cells in patients with acid peptic disorders.
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