The antral gastrin-producing cells in duodenal ulcer patients. A density study before and during treatment with cimetidine.
A density study of the antral gastrin-producing cells has been performed, before and after eight weeks of treatment with a histamine H2-receptor antagonist (cimetidine 1 g per day), in a series of 38 patients suffering from chronic duodenal ulcer. The treatment produced a significant increase in numerical density and a decrease in mean cell volume. The volume density of the cells was unchanged, suggesting that the elevated serum-gastrin during treatment may be the result of gastrin-cell hyperplasia, without change in the total gastrin-cell volume. The authors suggest that G-cell hyperplasia demonstrated during cimetidine treatment may be a factor of importance with regard to the rapid recurrence of many ulcers after discontinuation of the treatment.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002455:Cell Division; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000473:pathology*
D005755:Gastrins; D002927:Cimetidine