Hypoplasia of G cells in long term steroid-treated rats after ultra-high dose of salmon calcitonin.

Male young adult Wistar rats were treated parenterally with cortisol and cortisol combined with salmon calcitonin for 28 and 56 days and the stomach was investigated histologically as well as the G cells using immunohistochemistry. After 28 days of cortisol administration desquamation of the superficial layers of gastric mucosa was found and after 56 days ulcer-like changes developed and increased gastrin immunoreactivity was observed. Administration of high doses of salmon calcitonin together with cortisol resulted in a significant hypoplasia of G cells and prevented the pathological changes in the gastric mucosa.