The antral gastrin-producing cells and tissue gastrin in duodenal ulcer patients.

Morphometric estimation of the antral G-cells, radioimmunoassay estimation of the antral tissue gastrin, estimation of the antral mucosal volume and gastric acid secretion have been carried out on 10 duodenal ulcer patients. The total antral tissue gastrin varied from 52.4 to 245.1 micrograms and the mean G-cell gastrin from 0.5 to 1.8 pg. No constant relationship was found between G-cell densities and antral gastrin concentration, suggesting that no constant relationship exists between G-cell numbers and G-cell function. Furthermore, no constant relationship was observed between total antral gastrin and acid secretion.