The antral gastrin-producing cells in duodenal ulcer patients. An ultrastructural study before and during treatment with cimetidine.
Ultrastructural examination of the antral G cells has been carried out on 11 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer, before and after treatment with a histamine H-2 - receptor antagonist (cimetidine 1 g/day) for 8 weeks. The study demonstrated an increased area of the Golgi complex, rough endoplasmic reticulum and electron-dense granules, indicating increased G cell activity during treatment. An increased number of lysosomes was a constant feature during treatment. As an hypothesis we suggest that these lysosomes may participate in the secretory mechanism of human G cells, by destroying superfluous (Gastrin) components produced during hyperactivity.
D000328:Adult; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005755:Gastrins; D002927:Cimetidine