BACTERIA IN BIOPSIES OF HUMAN HYPOCHLORIDRIC STOMACH - A SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY STUDY

A long-lasting condition of hypochloridria leads to a bacterial growth both in the gastric lumen and biopsies of human stomach. Some of thes e bacteria are probably involved in gastric carcinogenesis, due to the ir capacity of nitrosation. This study was carried out on biopsies tak en during endoscopy from both gastric antrum and the body of patients with or without hypochloridria. Scanning electron microscopy observati on shows that bacteria, other than Helicobacter pylori, found in hypoc hloridria, can be located not only over but also into and under the mu cus layer covering the gastric epithelium. In such areas, mechanical a nd biochemical damage may occur.