Functional and morphological adaptation of the gastric glands to disturbances of external pancreatic secretion and experimental reflux pancreatitis.

The mucous membrane of the gastric fundus was investigated in dogs after interruption of the external pancreatic secretion and the formation of experimental reflux pancreatitis. A marked increase in the number of chief cells and a decrease in the number of parietal cells were found in the gastric fundal glands between 6 and 15-17 months after the operation. Meanwhile the RNA concentration in the chief cells was increased. These changes were constant throughout the period of investigation (until 20 months). The results are in full agreement changes in the secretory function of the stomach described previously under the same conditions and they can therefore be regarded as being compensatory or adaptive in character.