Relationship between the changes in gastrin levels and intestinal properties in the starved rat.

Intestinal DNA, RNA, and protein content were decreased to a greater extent than was body weight when rats were starved for 3 days. Specific lactase and maltase activity increased with progressively longer periods of starvation. Antral and serum gastrin concentration significantly decreased during the 3 days of starvation. Pentagastrin (250 mug/kg 3 times daily) was injected into a group of rats for the duration of a 3-day starvation period and caused a small but significant increase in the relative intestinal RNA and protein content and decreased lactase and maltase specific activities in comparison with the levels of 3-day starved controls. Pentagastrin thus partially reversed some of the starvation-induced changes toward fed levels. Thus, a deficiency in the trophic hormone gastrin may be partially responsible for the disproportionate changes in intestinal tissue during starvation.