Enterochromaffin cells in the stomach of the rat after prolonged administration of cortisol and both cortisol and salmon calcitonin

Young adult male Wistar rats (eight controls and ten experimental animals p er group) were injected parenterally for 28 days: 1) cortisol or 2) cortiso l and salmon calcitonin. Morphological changes of the stomach wall and ente rochromaffin cells, stained immunocytochemically for serotonin, were assess ed, In the group treated with cortisol superficial desquamation and erosion s of the gastral mucosa were found. In this group the number of enterochrom affin cells was significantly decreased and low intensity of the immunocyto chemical reaction of these cells was observed. In the cortisol-calcitonin-t reated group there were no apparent changes of the gastral mucosa and the e nterochromaffin cells presented a normal picture comparable to that of cont rols. (C) 1999, Editrice Kurtis.