Abstract
Prolactin-like material (PLM) has been identified in the mucosa of some coeliac patients. This finding raises questions about the nature and function(s) of this peptide, particularly as pituitary prolactin is involved in metabolism and osmoregulation in some nammals other than man. Using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, we have examined the distribution of PLM in the mucosa of small and large intestines of 44 infants and children aged 1 month to 15 yrs. Material consisted in 31 jejunal biopsies [20 flat mucosae], 4 rectal biopsies [2 in aganglionic segment of Hirschprung disease], 7 proximal appendix fragments [5 acute appendicitis], 1 ileon [proximal to ileostomy] and 1 colon [Hirschprung, closure of colostoniy]. Cells containing PLM were identified at all levels of the small and large intestine, principally at the bottom of the crypts. They were present in 9/20 flat and 1/11 normal jejunal mucosae. Far less PLM was found in the appendix, whether inflamed or not. Two rectal biopsies from aganglionic segment were negative for PLM whereas normal tissue proximal to colostomy was positive. These preliminary findings suggest that this gut peptide which by no means ought to be identical to pituitary prolactin could have a role in the adaptative changes of the gut mucosa.
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