The morphological effects of chenodeoxycholic acid on human gastric mucosa.

Morphology of human gastric mucosa was examined by light microscopy before and after exposure to suspensions of chenodeoxycholic acid tablets. During gastroscopy with a flexible instrument the gastric mucosa of eight control subjects without gastric disease was biopsied. In five other patients the chenodeoxycholic acid tablet suspension was instilled immediately after control biopsies of mucosa. Subsequent biopsies were collected after 10-15 min exposure to the suspension. Surface mucosal cells regularly showed development of clear cytoplasmic vacuoles, marked cytoplasmic condensations, and pyknosis of the nuclei. Appreciable changes in relative cytoplasmic staining density, loss of intactness of cells, and loss of surface mucous cell granules were observed less frequently. Thus, exposure of gastric mucosa to chenodeoxycholic acid tablet suspensions may be associated with histological changes in surface mucosal cells.