The effect of chemical sympathectomy on the cell kinetics of gastric mucosa in golden hamsters

Abstract

The effects of chemical sympathectomy on the differentiation of the generative cells, superficial epithelial cells and gastrin cells of the gastric mucosa of hamster were examined by ³H-thymidine autoradiography. The labeling indices of the generative cell zone in the gastric mucosa and antral gastrin cells showed a transient significant decrease after chemical sympathectomy, and then they were gradually restore with time. After 4 weeks onward, the labeling indices of the generative cells showed a slightly low value compared with those in controls. The renewal of superficial epithelial cells and gastrin cells was examined in the hamster sympathectomized for 4 weeks. The time required for the differentiation to PAS positive superficial epithelial cells or gastrin cells had a tendency to elogate after chemical sympathectomy.
These results suggest that chemical sympathectomy played an inhibitive action on the proliferation and the differentiation of gastric mucosa.