Quantitative analysis of human parietal cells after pentagastrin: correlation with gastric potential difference
Tarnawski, A.; Ivey, K.J.; Krause, W.J.; Sherman, D.; Burks, M.; Hewett, J.
Laboratory Investigation; A Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology 42(4): 420-426
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6837 PMID: 7374107 Document Number: 166699
Biopsy samples of gastric mucosa were obtained from 5 healthy volunteers before and 5 and 15 min after the start of intravenous infusion of pentagastrin, 2 mu g/kg bodyweight h. Canalicular and tubulovesicular membrane area was estimated. Electron micrographs of 30 cells were taken from each of 5 subjects: 10 micrographs before pentagastrin infusion, 10 micrographs at 5 min after and 10 micrographs at 15 min after the start of pentagastrin infusion, a total of 150 micrographs. In addition, the gastric surface epithelial cells and their tight junctions were examined qualitatively. Pentagastrin infusion caused a prompt significant reduction in gastric mucosal potential difference (PD) (decrease of mucosal negativity) from -47.5 mV to 33.5 mV within 5 min. That reduction was followed by a gradual increase in PD toward baseline. Gastric pH was not changed at 5 min but was significantly decreased at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. Five min after the start of pentagastrin infusion, parietal cell canalicular membrane area was significantly increased, from 4.6 (mean) to 9.4%, whereas tubulovesicular area decreased from 13.7 to 9.0% of cytoplasmic area. At that time no change in surface epithelial cells or tight junctions was seen.