Increased visualization of antral gastrin-producing G-cells after acute stimulation of gastrin release in the rat.

The effect of acute stimulation of gastrin release on the number of antral gastrin-producing G-cells stained by conventional immunohistology was investigated in two experimental models. The substituted benzimidazole derivate BY 308 was administered at a dosage that induces complete achlorhydria and thereby led to marked hypergastrinaemia. Two hours after drug administration, antral G-cell density was increased by 14% and 35% in 12-h and 48-h fasted rats, respectively. Both serum gastrin levels and G-cell density further increased after 3 and 8 days' treatment with BY 308 whereas the somatostatin (D)-cell count did not change prior to 8 days' administration. In the isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach, acetylcholine was perfused for 36 min; this regimen increased gastrin release four-fold and enhanced the G-cell count by 24% whereas 8 min acetylcholine perfusion did not alter G-cell density significantly but stimulated gastrin output. The results of this study suggest that acute changes in the secretory activity of the gastrin cell are accompanied by an alteration of the staining characteristics thus indicating that an increase in the antral G-cell count does not solely depend upon formation of new cells.