EPITHELIAL RESPONSE OF THE RAT GASTRIC-MUCOSA TO CHRONIC SUPERFICIAL INJURY

Chronic injury to the healthy gastric mucosa with noxious agents such as aspirin or alcohol induces a progressive strengthening of the stoma ch wall against these insults. The present study examined the histolog ic response of the rat gastric mucosa to chronic destruction of the su perficial mucosa for one month with hypertonic saline. The number, pos ition and morphology of proliferating, parietal, G and D cells were fo llowed during mucosal injury and one month of recovery. The results sh owed that chronic injury reduced parietal cell numbers by about 30 per cent, particularly in the middle of the mucosal thickness where a clea r zone was formed by hypertrophy of mucous neck-like cells. G cells we re also reduced by about 50 percent, but there were no changes in D ce lls. Chronic injury induced a marked increase in the number of antral (+112 percent) and fundic (+250 percent) proliferating cells. Conclusi on: The rat gastric mucosa responds to chronic superficial injury by d own-regulation of acid secretory cells and gastrin secreting cells and an up-regulation of proliferating cells. The appearance of a prominen t layer of mucous neck-like cells may indicate a new secretory functio n for these cells.