The effects of long-term low-protein intake on gastrin cells of the rat antral mucosa during adulthood.

The effect of experimental protein malnutrition on gastrin producing cells in the antral part of the stomach was studied in male Wistar rats. Isoenergetic diets containing 25% (C-25) or 6% (PD-6) were given in isocaloric amounts during a 4-month experiment. All rats were offered drinking water ad libitum. The results showed that the long-term protein diet did not produce changes in the gastrin cell number. At the ultrastructural level G cells exhibited a decreased size of the nucleus. They were found to have an increased total granule volume density but the volume density of dense-cored granules was lower. The serum gastrin levels were significantly lowered by feeding the low protein diet. These changes are compatible with decreased functional activity of G cells under long-term protein deprivation.