A Study on Normal Pepsin Secretion Comparative Effects of Histalog and Tetragastrin, and Electron Microscopy of the Chief Cells Before and After Stimulation

Abstract

Each 20 normal men and women were examined for pepsin activities by the modified Anson's method, and comparison was made between those after stimulation with histalog and tetragastrin. Electron-microscopic studies were also made with the chief cells before and after stimulation.
The concentrations of pepsin after stimulation by histalog or tetragastrin reached the peak value in 10 to 20minutes after the stimulation, gradually decreased thereafter and reverted to the control level on 120minutes after the stimulation. Pepsin output reached also to the peak value in 10 to 20minutes after the stimulation. There was no statistical difference between the effects of histalog and of tetragastrin on the pepsin outputs, although the former appeared to be slightly stronger than the latter and the time of the maximum pepsin output was reached slightly earlier by the tetragastrin than by histalog.
After 20 minutes of stimulation, fusion of zymogen granules in the cytoplasm of the chief cells was increased and electron density of the granules was decreased. Cytoplasmic membrane, confronting the lumen, became irregular in shape and the buddings of the zymogen granules or the secreting processes of zymogen into the lumen were frequently observed.