title: Time-course changes of ECL cell markers in acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells are the major source of histamine for the regulation of gastric acid secretion, and also contain histidine decarboxylase (HDC), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), and chromogranin A (CgA). Although gastric acid secretion is suppressed during ulcer healing, the role of ECL cells in that process is not yet fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the changes in ECL cell number during healing of experimental ulcers in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were used. Acetic acid-induced ulcers were caused by an application of 100% acetic acid to the serosal surface of the rat stomachs. At different time points following the induction (12 h-15 days), time-course changes of HDC, VMAT2, and CgA mRNA expression were investigated by Northern blot analysis. The expressions of HDC, VMAT2, and CgA were immunostained on gastric mucosal sections with ulcers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HDC, VMAT2, and CgA mRNA in gastric mucosa each showed an initial marked transient decrease, followed by an increase on day 10 back to the initial value. HDC, VMAT2, and CgA-immunoreactive cells at the ulcer margin were reduced in number on day 3, compared with those in distant areas. On day 10, however, they returned to levels similar to those in distant areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed a local down-regulation of HDC, VMAT2, and CgA in ECL cells at the ulcer margin. As a result, we concluded that a suppression of ECL cell activity during ulcer healing may be involved in suppressed gastric acid secretion.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kazumori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019861:Enterochromaffin-like Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019342:Acetic Acid