Abstract
The relationship between mucosal enzymatic activity and structural character of the surface of intestinal metaplasia in the stomach was investigated through the observation of biopsy specimen under the dissecting microscope. During gastroscopy, the existence of intestinal metaplasia was detected by spraying methylene blue solution and specimen was taken from the part of intestinal metaplasia. The biopsy particles were stained histochemically in our own special way for the detection fo enzyme activity (alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, maltase, lactase). On teh other hand, superficial structure of these specimens were odserved to see if they were rather similar to the gastric or intestinal mucosa. These two factors were compared in 577 specimens. Results 1) The existence of enzymes were detected in different manner. 2) The superficial appearance of intestinal metaplasia was similar to the gastric mucosa in 77% and to the intestinal mucosa in 23%. 3) The intestinal metaplasia with similar superficial structure to the small intestine was significantly higher in mucosal enzymatic activity than those with gastric mucosa like structure. ALPase (p<0.02)
