Hyperplastic manifestations of enterochromaffin-like cells in the stomach of rats with congenital moderate hypergastrinemia.

Abstract

The effect of moderate congenital hypergastrinemia on the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells was investigated in Zucker rats 4 and 18 months of age by combining autoradiography after tritiated thymidine injection and selective immunocytochemistry. In both age groups the serum gastrin concentration was 200% higher in obese (fa/fa) than in lean (Fa/Fa; Fa/fa) littermates. In 4-month-old obese rats there was a 120% increase (p < 0.05) in the ECL cell labeling index and also a moderate increase in the ECL cell density (p < 0.05) compared with lean controls. In 18-month-old obese rats the hyperplasia was quantitatively more prominent, with both linear and micronodular ECL cell hyperplasia. At this stage, the ECL cell labeling indices in obese and in lean animals were similar. These data support the hypothesis that moderate hypergastrinemia initially accelerates the ECL cell proliferation rate, leading to diffuse ECL cell hyperplasia. In similar conditions, at the latter stage, linear and micronodular ECL cell hyperplasia also develop in most of the hypergastrinemic animals.