Morphological and functional restoration of parietal cells in helicobacter pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis after eradication. (25/1256)

BACKGROUND/AIM: Helicobacter pylori infections are associated with hypochlorhydria in patients with pangastritis. It has previously been shown that eradication of H pylori leads to an increase in acid secretion in H pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis, suggesting that H pylori infection affects parietal cell function in the gastric body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of H pylori infection on parietal cell morphology and function in hypochlorhydric patients. PATIENTS/METHODS: The presence of H pylori infection, mucosal length, and inflammatory infiltration were investigated in six patients with enlarged fold gastritis and 12 patients without enlarged folds. Parietal cell morphology was examined by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against the alpha subunit of H(+),K(+)-ATPase and electron microscopy. In addition, gastric acid secretion and fasting serum gastrin concentration were determined before and after the eradication of H pylori. RESULTS: In the H pylori positive patients with enlarged fold gastritis, fold width, foveolar length, and inflammatory infiltration were increased. In addition, the immunostaining pattern of H(+), K(+)-ATPase was less uniform, and the percentage of altered parietal cells showing dilated canaliculi with vacuole-like structures and few short microvilli was greatly increased compared with that in H pylori positive patients without enlarged folds. After eradication, fold width, foveolar length, and inflammatory infiltrates decreased and nearly all parietal cells were restored to normal morphology. On the other hand, altered parietal cells were negligible in H pylori negative patients. In addition, the basal acid output and tetragastrin stimulated maximal acid output increased significantly from 0.5 (0.5) to 4.1 (1.5) mmol/h and from 2.5 (1.2) to 13.8 (0.7) mmol/h (p<0.01), and fasting serum gastrin concentrations decreased significantly from 213.5 (31.6) to 70.2 (7.5) pg/ml (p<0.01) after eradication in patients with enlarged fold gastritis. CONCLUSION: The morphological changes in parietal cells associated with H pylori infection may be functionally associated with the inhibition of acid secretion seen in patients with enlarged fold gastritis.  (+info)

PACAP type I receptor activation regulates ECL cells and gastric acid secretion. (26/1256)

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is present in gastric nerves, and PACAP receptors (PAC1) are found on gastric enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. Expression of PAC1 splice variants in purified ECL cells was determined by RT-PCR. PACAP effects on ECL cells were analyzed by video imaging of [Ca(2+)](i) and histamine release; its effects on gastric glands were examined by confocal microscopy of [Ca(2+)](i) in ECL and parietal cells. PACAP action on D cells was measured by [Ca(2+)](i) and radioimmunoassay. PACAP effects on acid secretion were determined in fistula rats with or without neutralizing anti-somatostatin antibodies. All splice variants of PAC1 were found, but vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptor (VPAC) products were absent. PACAP-27 and -38 dose-dependently raise [Ca(2+)](i) in ECL cells, and stimulated histamine release. VIP had a much lower affinity, which demonstrates the presence of PAC1 but not VPAC. PACAP elevated [Ca(2+)](i) in ECL and parietal cells of superfused gastric glands, but only the parietal cell signal was inhibited by ranitidine, showing the absence of PAC1 on parietal cells, and demonstrating functional coupling between the cell types. PACAP and VIP stimulated calcium signaling and somatostatin release from D cells with almost equal efficacy. Acid secretion was stimulated after intravenous injection of PACAP into rats treated with somatostatin antibody. PACAP is a candidate as a mediator of neural regulation of acid secretion.  (+info)

Human apolipoprotein A-IV reduces gastric acid secretion and diminishes ulcer formation in transgenic mice. (27/1256)

We have investigated the involvement of human apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) in gastric acid secretion and ulcer formation in recently generated apoA-IV transgenic mice. Compared to control littermates, transgenic animals showed a gastric acid secretion decreased by 43-77% whereas only slight variations were observed in the different cell population densities within the gastric mucosa. In addition, no variation in gastrin levels was observed. Transgenics were protected against indomethacin-induced ulcer formation, with lesions diminishing by 45 to 64% compared to controls. These results indicate that endogenous apoA-IV expression can regulate gastric acid secretion and ulcer development.  (+info)

Effect of naproxen on the hamster gastric antrum: ulceration, adaptation and efficacy of anti-ulcer drugs. (28/1256)

BACKGROUND: Various animal models of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric ulceration exist. These models have limitations, which make them less relevant to the human situation. AIM: : To develop a more simple and more relevant model of NSAID-induced gastric ulceration and adaptation. METHODS: Gastric ulceration was evaluated following the orogastric administration of naproxen (80 mg/kg b.d.) to hamsters. The effects of misoprostol and famotidine on gastric acid secretion and ulceration were also determined. Gastric adaptation was evaluated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry, in hamsters given naproxen for 3 weeks. Antral resistance to acute injury by NSAIDs and ethanol was also determined in these animals. RESULTS: Naproxen caused primarily gastric antral ulceration, which decreased from day 3 to day 21. This gastric adaptation was accompanied by an increase in PCNA positive cells, particularly on days 7 and 14. The adapted gastric antral mucosa was resistant to acute damage by various agents. Misoprostol (1 or 100 microg/kg) prevented antral ulceration, without affecting gastric acid secretion. Despite decreasing acid output by> 90%, famotidine (30 mg/kg) failed to prevent ulceration. CONCLUSION: The administration of naproxen (80 mg/kg b.d.) to hamsters is a simple, reliable and relevant method for evaluating NSAID-induced gastric antral ulceration and adaptation.  (+info)

Stress-induced gastric lesion formation is prevented in rats with daunomycin-induced nephrosis. (29/1256)

In the present study, we investigated the susceptibility to restraint plus water-immersion stress (RWIS) in rats with daunomycin-induced nephrosis in comparison to that in normal rats. The severity of RWIS-induced gastric lesions was significantly less in nephrotic rats on the 20th and 40th days after a single i.v. injection of daunomycin (12 mg/kg) than in the respective control rats. Acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats significantly decreased under the 3-h stress. On the 20th day after treatment with daunomycin, acid secretion was significantly less in nephrotic rats than in control rats under both stress and unstressed conditions. Pretreatment of normal rats with methylene blue, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, or phenylephrine, a vasoconstrictor, significantly prevented the stress-induced gastric lesions and decreased acid secretion. N(omega)-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, prevented the stress-induced gastric lesion formation only. These results indicate that nephrotic rats are more resistant to RWIS-induced gastric lesions than normal rats. In addition, these results suggest that the decrease in acid secretion related to the decrease in the release of NO from endothelial cells may contribute, at least in part, to the prevention of the stress-induced gastric lesion formation in nephrotic rats.  (+info)

Review article: acid suppression in non-variceal acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. (30/1256)

Despite a decreased incidence of ulcer disease and improvements in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, mortality remains at about 6-7%. Although endoscopic haemostatic therapy has been demonstrated to be the mainstay of management, the search continues for less invasive medical modalities that might also improve patient outcome. In vitro data have indicated the important role of acid in impairing haemostasis and causing clot digestion. Therefore, theoretically, maintenance of a high intragastric pH (above 6.0) during management of upper GI bleeding is warranted. Until recently, available agents did not permit such a sustained elevation in gastric pH. Early studies with H2-receptor antagonists have not demonstrated significant improvements in important patient outcomes, such as rebleeding, surgery or mortality. With the availability of intravenous formulations of proton pump inhibitors, it is now possible to aim at maintaining gastric pH above 6.0 for 24 h per day. Recent clinical trial data would appear to support the use of proton pump inhibitors to decrease the rate of rebleeding and the need for surgery. This paper provides a review of non-variceal acute GI bleeding, with special reference to the role of proton pump inhibitors in this clinical setting.  (+info)

Endogenous nitric oxide in the regulation of gastric secretory and motor activity in humans. (31/1256)

BACKGROUND: Studies in animals have shown that nitric oxide (NO) affects gastric secretory and motor functions. However, little information is available about the involvement of this substance in the control of gastric secretory and motor activity in man. METHODS: This study, performed on 18 healthy, Helicobacter pylori-negative volunteers, was designed to evaluate the role of NO in the control of gastric acid secretion and of gastrin and somatostatin release in response to ordinary feeding (group A) and on gastric motor and electrical activity (group B). Gastric acid secretion was determined by means of intragastric pH-metry before and after feeding with a semi-liquid meal. Plasma levels of gastrin and somatostatin were measured using specific radioimmunoassays. Gastric emptying rate was measured using the 13C-acetate breath test, antral motor activity using a manometric catheter and myoelectric activity using cutaneous electrogastrography. Studies were repeated following pre-treatment with NG-monomethyl-L-Arginine (L-NMMA), L-Arginine (L-Arg) or their combination. RESULTS: L-NMMA delayed the recovery of intragastric pH to the pre-meal value, and suppressed postprandial gastrin release while increasing the plasma somatostatin level. L-Arg did not affect postprandial pH and plasma hormones, but reversed L-NMMA-induced alterations in intragastric pH and in plasma gastrin and somatostatin levels. Both postprandial antral motor activity (motility index) and gastric emptying significantly increased in tests with L-NMMA, but this was not observed when L-NMMA was given in combination with L-Arg or when L-Arg alone was used. The gastric electrical pattern, as measured by cutaneous electrogastrography, was not affected by L-NMMA, L-Arg or their combination. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Endogenous NO appears to be involved in the regulation of postprandial gastric acid secretion. This effect may be mediated by the changes in release of gastrin and somatostatin. (2) Endogenous NO delays gastric emptying and antral motor activity without affecting gastric myoelectrical activity.  (+info)

Analysis of the membrane domain of the gastric H(+)/K(+)-ATPase. (32/1256)

A structure of the catalytic or alpha subunit of the H(+)/K(+)-ATPase, with ten transmembrane segments, and of the beta subunit, with a single such segment, was established using a combination of tryptic cleavage and peptide sequencing and in vitro translation. Sites at which covalent ligands bind to external surfaces were also defined by cleavage, separation and sequencing. Cys813 was found to be the common covalent binding site for all the substituted pyridyl methylsulfinyl benzimidazoles. The binding region of a K(+)-competitive reagent, the 1,2 &agr; -imidazo-pyridine SCH 28080, was defined by the kinetic effects of site-specific mutations. Amino acids substitutions in membrane-spanning segments M1, M3, M4 and M6 were found to influence the apparent inhibitor constant, K(i), to varying degrees, some having a large effect, some a moderate effect and some a slight effect, whereas some mutations had no effect. We interpret changes in K(i) without effects on the apparent Michaelis constant, K(m), as affecting SCH 28080 binding only. Mutation of Cys813 significantly affected the K(i) for SCH 28080, explaining the prevention of benzimidazole inhibition by the imidazo-pyridine.A model of the &agr; subunit was constructed with a vestibule on the luminal surface of the pump bounded by M1-M6 and containing the SCH 28080 binding region. The cation binding site is suggested to be more towards the cytoplasmic face of the enzyme's membrane domain. This model predicts the membrane peptide associations for the catalytic subunit. Biochemical and yeast two-hybrid methods place the beta subunit in association with M8, whereas similar methods place M5/6 in proximity to M9/10. These results, when combined with analysis of the two-dimensional crystals of the sarcoplasmic reticular Ca(2+) and Neurospora crassa H(+)-ATPases, provide the basis for a tentative model of the arrangement of the six core segments of the gastric H(+)/K(+)-ATPase.  (+info)