Effects of truncal vagotomy on tissue gastrin content and G cell density in rats.

Tissue and serum immunoreactive gastrin (IRG) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay, and antral G cell density was studied by immunofluorescence in seven non-operative and ten vagotomized (one month postoperatively) rats. In the non-operative rats, tissue IRG concentration was overwhelmingly high in the antrum, especially in the distal antrum, and much less in the small intestine, in which it tended to be lower toward the distal part. There were no significant differences between the vagotomized and non-operative rats in antral G cell density, antral tissue IRG concentration, total IRG content of the anterior antrum and serum IRG level, although significantly increased wet weight of the specimen, which was considered a result of the operation, was observed in vagotomized rats. The presence of G cell hyperplasia after vagotomy cannot be confirmed from our one-month postoperative observations in rats.