Epithelial response of the rat gastric mucosa to chronic superficial injury.
Chronic injury to the healthy gastric mucosa with noxious agents such as aspirin or alcohol induces a progressive strengthening of the stomach wall against these insults. The present study examined the histologic response of the rat gastric mucosa to chronic destruction of the superficial mucosa for one month with hypertonic saline. The number, position and morphology of proliferating, parietal, G and D cells were followed during mucosal injury and one month of recovery. The results showed that chronic injury reduced parietal cell numbers by about 30 percent, particularly in the middle of the mucosal thickness where a clear zone was formed by hypertrophy of mucous neck-like cells. G cells were also reduced by about 50 percent, but there were no changes in D cells. Chronic injury induced a marked increase in the number of antral (+112 percent) and fundic (+250 percent) proliferating cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The rat gastric mucosa responds to chronic superficial injury by down-regulation of acid secretory cells and gastrin secreting cells and an up-regulation of proliferating cells. The appearance of a prominent layer of mucous neck-like cells may indicate a new secretory function for these cells.
Lacy
E R
ER
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. lacyer@musc.edu
Cowart
K S
KS
King
J S
JS
DelValle
J
J
Smolka
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005755:Gastrins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000494:pharmacology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D005755:Gastrins; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D013004:Somatostatin