DIMINUTION IN PARIETAL-CELL NUMBER IN EXPERIMENTAL PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE GASTROPATHY

Portal hypertensive gastropathy is a well-established clinical entity. Although stimulated acid secretion has been found to be decreased in portal hypertensive rats, the parietal cell mass has not been studied. Portal hypertension was produced in Wistar rats either by partial por tal vein ligation (N = 16) or by common bile duct ligation (N = 23) an d confirmed by intrasplenic pulp pressure measurement. The parietal ce lls were isolated and counted in a Neubaur hemacytometer. The parietal cell count was also done in microscopic sections at direct histopatho logical examination. The viable, isolated parietal cell count and pari etal cell count on histopathological examination were significantly de creased in partial portal vein ligated rats. Similarly, in common bile duct ligated rats, the parietal cell count was decreased as compared to sham-operated rats. In experimental portal hypertensive gastropathy there is a decrease in parietal cell number.