Depression of antral and serum gastrin concentration by food deprivation in the rat
Lichtenberger, L.M.; Lechago, J.; Johnson, L.R.
Gastroenterology 68(6): 1473-1479
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-5085 PMID: 1093920 Document Number: 92447
In adult male Wistar rats starved for 4 days, immunoreactive gastrin concentrations decreased to one-third of the values of the fed state in antral tissue and to one-eighth of the fed state in serum. The number of antral cells that reacted with fluorescent antigastrin antiserum was correspondingly decreased. After refeeding, serum gastrin returned to normal values in 6 days, whereas antral gastrin concentration recovered after 9 days. Normal gastrin concentrations were maintained in rats on a nutritious liquid diet over a 6-day period, whereas tissue and serum hormone concentrations fell to low values in rats placed on a high-bulk non-nutritive diet over the same period. The findings suggested that food in the gastrointestinal tract is necessary for the maintenance of normal serum and antral gastrin concentration in rats. The effect of food is most likely attributable to chemical constituents and not to distention by bulk.