Change in enterochromaffinª²like cells during healing of experimental gastric ulcer in rats

    HE Meiª²Rong, ZHANG Shaoª²Rong, SONG Yuª²Gang, CHEN Xueª²Qing

    Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the morphologic and functional changes in enterochromaffinª²like (ECL) cells during the healing of experimental gastric ulcer in rats. METHODS: Acetic acidª²induced ulcers were caused by application of acetic acid to the serosal surface of the anterior face of the rat gastric bodies. At different time points during ulcer healing, ECL cells, histidine decarboxylase (HDC) mRNA expression and histamine content were studied using immunohistochemical staining, reverse transcriptionª²polymerase chain reaction and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with that in control group, the percentage and the mean gray value of HDCª²positive cells in gastric mucosa of ulcer rats decreased immediately on day 1, most markedly on day 6. They began to increase on day 9 and returned to the initial levels on day 12. The HDC mRNA expression in gastric mucosa of ulcer rats decreased on day 1, most markedly on day 6, subsequently rose gradually and almost normalized on day 9. The histamine content in gastric mucosa of ulcer rats also decreased, lowest on day 6 after ulcer induction. CONCLUSION: ECL cells maybe participate in the regulation of ulcer healing by weakening the function of histamine synthesis. ......