POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN NORMAL SERUM GASTRIN-CONCENTRATIONS AND ANTRAL AND DUODENAL G-CELLS

It is controversial whether there is a correlation between serum gastr in concentrations and the density of G cells in the antral or duodenal mucosa. In this study, endoscopically obtained antral and duodenal bi opsies were stained immunocytochemically for gastrin and the G cells q uantitated using an MOP Videoplan computer image analysis system. Stud ies were performed in 20 patients with acid-peptic disorders (gastric ulcer, n=5; duodenal ulcer, n=10; reflux esophagitis, n=4; and nonulce r dyspepsia, n=1). Correlations between antrat and duodenal G cell den sities, and basal- and food-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations wi thin the normal range (less than 100 mg/L) - but not in those with ele vated gastrin concentrations - support the postulate that alterations in G cell function are important in patients with acid-peptic disorder s.