Argyrophil cells in the rat duodenum after gastrectomy.
Two different techniques of reconstruction after total gastrectomy were performed in rats: Roux-en-Y (RY) and jejunal interposition (JI). Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Sixteen weeks after surgery the animals were sacrificed. The distribution of the enteroendocrine cells in the duodenal and proximal jejunal mucosa was examined using the Grimelius silver nitrate stain. The frequency of the Grimelius-positive cells was estimated as number of cells per square millimeter of gut surface and as number of cells per transverse section of intestine. Intestinal villi height was also measured in the same duodenojejunal tracts. After gastrectomy, the JI rats showed a better weight gain than RY rats (p less than 0.05). A significant difference in the distribution of intestinal argyrophil cells was seen. The bypassed duodenojejunal tracts in RY rats showed a marked reduction of the Grimelius-positive cells in comparison with JI rats and controls (p less than 0.01). A reduction in the number of argyrophil cells in the proximal duodenum was also noticed in the JI rats in comparison with controls (p less than 0.01). A decrease in the villi height resulted in all the gastrectomized rats (p less than 0.01), but a significant decrease was also noticed in RY rats in comparison with JI (p less than 0.01). Our experimental observations suggested that the exclusion of the duodenum from intestinal transit after gastrectomy caused atrophy of the gut mucosa and a marked reduction in the number of argyrophil enteroendocrine cells in the bypassed tracts.
D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D000818:Animals; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000473:pathology; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D012835:Silver Nitrate