STUDIES ON GASTRIN SECRETION IN PEPTIC ULCER

Changes in Antral Mucosal Gastrin Content in the Course of Peptic Ulcer

Abstract

To investigate pathophysiological roles of gastrin in the process of peptic ulcer disease, we measured immunoreactive gastrin (IRG) content and the number of G-cells in endoscopically biopsied gastric antral mucosa of peptic ulcer patients together with fasting serum IRG concentration. Patients were classified into three groups depending on the location of ulcers, i. e. duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer (angle) and gastric ulcer (body), each group was further subdivided by the stage of the disease, i. e. the acute and the healing stage.
In the acute stage of the ulcers, antral mucosal IRG content was in the order, duodenal ulcer> gastric ulcer (angle) > gastric ulcer (boy). There was no significant difference in the number of G-cells between these three groups. In both duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer (angle) patient groups, the antral mucosal IRG content was significantly higher in the acute stage than in the healing stage for each patient and showed positive correation with fasting serum IRG concentration in the acute stage of the disease. However, no such correlation was observed in gastric ulcer (body).
These findings suggest the presence of hyperactivity of G-cells in the acute stage of duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer (angle).