Cell density of adrenomedullin-immunoreactive cells in the gastric endocrine cells decreases in antral atrophic gastritis.

Abstract

AIMS:

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a novel hypotensive and vasorelaxing peptide recently isolated from human phaeochromocytoma tissue, and is widely distributed in various organs. In this study we examined the localization of AM-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the gastric mucosa and AM-IR cell density in antral atrophic gastritis.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Gastric mucosal tissues were taken from the gastric body and antral mucosa of 52 patients (27 men, 25 women; mean age 56.0 (range 20-86) years). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AM-IR cells were present in the pyloric glands, but not in the fundic glands, and that AM-IR cells were stained positively for chromogranin A and gastrin. The percentage of AM-IR cells vs chromogranin A- and gastrin-IR cells was 42 and 56%, respectively. The number of AM-IR cells decreased with the progression of severity of atrophic changes in the pyloric gland, and also of mononuclear cell infiltration. There was no correlation between the number of AM-IR cells and the degree of neutrophilic infiltration. Similar findings were also obtained for gastrin-IR cells.

CONCLUSION:

AM-IR cells are present in the endocrine cells including gastrin-IR cells in the pyloric glands. These results suggest that AM may contribute to gastrin secretion in the pyloric glands.

• Authors: M Kitani, Y Asada, J Sakata, K Kitamura, A Sumiyoshi, T Eto
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 34 Issue 2 Pg. 134-9 (Feb 1999) ISSN: 0309-0167 [Print] England
• PMID: 10064392 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antihypertensive Agents
• Chromogranin A
• Chromogranins
• Gastrins
• Peptides
• Vasodilator Agents
• Adrenomedullin

Topics

• Adrenomedullin
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antihypertensive Agents (metabolism)
• Cell Count
• Chromogranin A
• Chromogranins (metabolism)
• Enteroendocrine Cells (metabolism)
• Female
• Gastrins (metabolism)
• Gastritis, Atrophic (immunology, metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Leukocyte Count
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peptides (metabolism)
• Vasodilator Agents (metabolism)