Distribution of GEP endocrine cells in the gastric mucosa of mice with experimental gastritis.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the morphological changes in the endocrine cell profile in the atrophic mucosa of mice with autoimmune gastritis induced by neonatal thymectomy and administration of carcinogenic chemical, N-methyl-N'-nitroN-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Proliferation of argyrophil cells, gastrin (Gl 7, G34) cells in areas of pseudopyloric metaplasia, enteric hormone (GIP, secretin, substance P, enteroglucagon) containing cells and enterochromaffin cells in areas of intestinal metaplasia of the atrophic mucosa was observed in mice with autoimmune gastritis together with proliferation of enterochromaffin-like cells and undifferentiated endocrine cells in their atrophic mucosa. These findings suggest that atrophic mucosae, especially epithelia of pseudopyloric and intestinal metaplasia as well, have the potential of producing endocrine cells which are normally present in the gastric antrum and intestine. 649