[Quantitative characteristics of various endocrine cells of the duodenal bulb in the pre-ulcer conditions and duodenal ulcer].

Endocrine cells of the duodenal bulb producing adrenalin, noradrenalin, serotonin, histamine and beta-endorphine were assayed in 12 patients with preulcer and 39 patients with duodenal ulcer. It is shown that preulcer was mainly characterized by hyperplasia of endocrine cells in the duodenal bulb mucosa, secreting adrenalin and noradrenalin in the presence of the deficiency of beta-endorphine-producing cells. The recurrent duodenal ulcer was associated with a dramatic fall in the number of catecholamine-containing endocrine cells in the duodenal bulb.