Study of the population of antral G-cells and enterochromaffin-like cells in the rat and mouse gastric mucosa after long-term treatment with ebrotidine.

The potential effect of ebrotidine (N-[(E)-[[2-[[[2-[(diaminomethylene]amino]-4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl ] amino)methylene]-4-bromo-benzenesulfonamide, CAS 100981-43-9, FI-3542) on two types of enteroendocrine cell populations in the gastric mucosa, antral G-cells and enterochromaffin-like cells, was investigated. The study of the population of antral G-cells was performed in a group of male rats treated with ebrotidine 500 mg/kg p.o. for 60 days; a control group receiving 10 ml/kg of an aqueous agar solution was used. A PAP (peroxidase-antiperoxidase) system-associated antigastrin immunohistochemical method was used for cell identification. The population of enterochromaffin-like cells was assessed by quantifying the density of argyrophilic cells in mouse gastric mucosa after an 18-month treatment with ebrotidine 500 mg/kg. Grimelius silver staining method was used for cell identification. In both studies, cell count was performed using a light microscope at 400 x magnification and cell density was calculated by computer-assisted image analysis. Compared to control, ebrotidine did not cause any significant differences in the cell density of the populations studied.