CHOLECYSTOKININ GENE-EXPRESSION IN HUMAN DUODENAL BIOPSY SPECIMENS

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide released after feeding. Until now C CK gene expression has been studied only on sacrified animals on mucos a scrapped off the duodenum. Objective. - The aim of this study was to assess CCK-mRNA detection on duodenal biopsy specimens in Subjects un dergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods. - Six biopsy specimens w ere taken from 6 healthy subjects, a) after a 12-h overnight fast and b) 6 or 12 h after a fat meal, and inducing a CCK release. CCK-mRNA wa s analyzed by Northern blot. Results. - Plasma CCK levels increased fr om basal levels of 0.5 +/- 0.1 pmole/L to 8.2 +/- 1.5 pmole/L 10 min a fter the meal. The fasting CCK-mRNA levels were 44.0 +/- 0.6% and the post-prandial levels increased to 74.0 +/- 6.0 % at 6 h and decreased to 47,5 +/- 0.5 % at 12 h. Conclusions. - Detection of CCK gene expres sion in human duodenal biopsy specimens is feasible. Stimulation of CC K release after a meal is followed by an increase in CCK-mRNA in the d uodenal mucosa.