Chromogranin A-, somatostatin- and serotonin- containing endocrine cells in the corporal gastric mucosa of patients with Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the number and distribution of chromogranin A, somatostatin and serotonin containing endocrine cells (EC) in the corporal gastric mucosa of patients with Helicobacter pylori (HP) associated chronic gastritis.

METHODS

In 12 patients (7 males and 5 females, median age 47 years, range 39-59 years) the number of chromogranin A, somatostatin and serotonin containing endocrine cells (EC) in the corporal gastric mucosa was counted after the appropriate histochemical reaction using specific primary antibodies. The gastric mucosal tissue was obtained by endoscopic biopsy from the greater curvature, anterior and posterior walls of the stomach body. The number of EC was determined per 1 mm2 of the lamina muscularis mucosae.

RESULTS

The number of chromogranin A, somatostatin and serotonin containing EC in the corporal gastric mucosa in the patients examined was not increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of changes in the somatostatin containing cells indicates that they are not directly involved in the development of hypergastrinaemia accompanying the HP infection.