Gastric fundic epithelial proliferation after pancreaticobiliary diversion. Studies with quantitative histological analysis and autoradiography in the hamster.

The effect of pancreaticobiliary diversion (PBD) with hypercholecystokininemia on the gastric fundic mucosa was studied in the Syrian golden hamster over 5 and 24 days. Sham-operated animals served as controls. Basal plasma gastrin concentrations were significantly decreased on days 5 and 24. Five days after PBD, there was a significant increase in the scintigraphically measured [3H]-thymidine incorporation into fundic tissue. Correspondingly, there was a significant increase in the number of cells with [3H]-thymidine-labeled DNA in the proliferative zone of the fundic mucosa. The total number of cells in the gastric pits, the number of cells in the proliferative zone and the proliferation index were also significantly increased 5 days after PBD. Although the mean values of all variables were higher after PBD than in the control group on day 24, these increases were not significant. It is concluded that PBD at least transiently stimulates gastric fundic epithelial proliferation in the hamster. Whether this is an effect of hypercholecystokininemia remains to be definitely proven in further studies.