The distributions and frequencies of some endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of ddY mice were studied with immunohistochemical method using 7 types of antisera against bovine chromogranin (BCG), serotonin, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, somatostatin, glucagon and human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP). All of 7 types of immunoreactive (IR) cells were identified. Most of IR cells in the intestinal portion were generally spherical or spindle in shape (open typed cell) while cells showing round in shape (close typed cell) were found in the intestinal gland and stomach regions occasionally. Their relative frequencies were varied according to each portion of GI tract. BCG-IR cells were demonstrated throughout whole GI tract except for the cecum and they were most predominant in the fundus and pylorus. Serotonin-IR cells were detected throughout whole GI tract and they were most predominant cell types in this species of mice. Gastrin-IR cells were restricted to the pylorus and CCK-8-IR cells were demonstrated in the pylorus, duodenum and jejunum with numerous frequencies in the pylorus. Somatostatin-IR cells were detected throughout whole GI tract except for the cecum and rectum and they showed more numerous frequencies in the stomach regions. In addition, glucagon-IR cells were restricted to the fundus, duodenum and jejunum with rare frequencies, and HPP-IR cells were restricted to the rectum only with rare frequency. In conclusion, some strain-dependent unique distributional patterns of gastrointestinal endocrine cells were found in GI tract of ddY mice.
Animals ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Cholecystokinin/analysis ; Chromogranins/analysis ; Enteroendocrine Cells/*cytology/immunology ; Female ; Gastrins/analysis ; Glucagon/analysis ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Mice ; Pancreatic Polypeptide/analysis ; Protein Precursors/analysis ; Serotonin/analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of gastrin(GAS) and gastrin releasing peptide(GRP) in patients with gastric cancer and investigate the clinical significance.

METHODSThe expression of GAS and GRP in sixty patients with gastric cancer was detected by using tissue chip technique and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThe positive rates of GAS and GRP were 30.0% and 11.7% respectively in 60 cases with gastric cancer. The positive rates of GAS and GRP were higher in moderately and poorly differentiated cancers than those in well differentiated cancer (P< 0.05). The positive rates of GAS and GRP were significantly higher in mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma than those in other types of gastric cancer (P< 0.05). The positive expression of GAS and GRP in gastric cancer was correlated with lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTissue chip technique is a feasible,rapid,economic and accurate approach for screening clinical tissue specimens on a large scale.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Array Analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the pathologic change and molecular regulation in cell proliferation and apoptosis of gastric mucosa in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), and evaluate the possible mechanisms.

METHODSRats were administered with 60% alcohol or 2% salicylate sodium, 20 mmol/L deoxycholate sodium and 0.1% ammonia water to establish chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) models. The gastric specimens were prepared for microscopic view with hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) and alcian blue (A-B) stain. The number of infiltrated inflammatory cells, the thickness of the mucosa gland layer (microm) and the number of gastric glands were calculated. The damage of barrier in mucosa with erosion or ulceration, and the thickness of mucin were examined by scanned electron microscope (SEM). The levels of PGE(2), EGF (epiderminal growth factor) and gastrin in the serum were measured with radioimmunoassay or ELISA method. The immunohistochemistry method was used to observe the number of G cells, the expression of protein of EGFR (EGF receptor), C-erbB-2, p53, p16 and bcl-2 in gastric tissue.

RESULTSUnder SEM observation, the gastric mucosa was diffused erosion or ulceration and the thickness of mucin was decreased. Compared with normal rats, the grade of inflammatory cell infiltration in CAG rats was elevated, whereas the thickness and number of gastric gland were significantly lower (P<0.05). Compared with normal level of (0.61+/-0.28) microg/L, EGF in CAG (2.24+/-0.83) microg/L was significantly higher (P<0.05). The levels of PGE(2) and gastrin in serum were significantly lower in CAG rats than that in normal rats (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry detection showed that the number of G cell in antrum was lower in CAG group (P<0.05). Immuno-stain showed EGFR protein expression in the basal and bilateral membrane, and the cytoplasma in atrophic gastric gland, while negative expression was observed in normal gastric epithelial cells. Positive staining of p53 and p16 protein was localized in the nucleus of epithelial cells. The former was higher positively expressed in atrophic gland, while the later was higher positively stained in normal gastric tissue. bcl-2 protein was positively stained in the cytoplasma in atrophic gastric gland, while very weakly stained in normal gastric tissue.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological findings in gastric gland accorded with the Houston diagnostic criteria of antrum-predominant CAG. CAG in rats was related with the damage of barrier in gastric mucosa and the misbalance of cell proliferation and apoptosis. There was high protein expression of oncogene, while inhibitor of suppressor gene in CAG rats indicated high trend of carcinogenesis.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; blood ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; pathology ; Gastrins ; blood ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

Multiple endocrine neoplasia I(MEN I) is a genetic disorder that consists of neoplasia of neuroendocrine type in the parathyroid glands, in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, and in the anterior pituitary gland. Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common feature and occurs in approximately 95% of MEN I patients. Pancreatic islet cell tumors occur in 40% of MEN I patients. Most of these tumors produce excessive amounts of hormones, such as gastrin, insulin, glucagon and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP). VIP-producing pancreatic tumors(VIPoma) associated with MEN I are rare and so far only one has been reported in Korea. Recently, we came across a case of MEN I, associated VIPoma presented persistent hypercalcemia after a parathyroidectomy. A 70 year old man had suffered from large amount of watery diarrhea, severe general weakness and paralysis of lower limbs for 3 months which suggests symptoms of hypercalcemia. Before the patient visited our hospital, he underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy due to hyperparathyroidism. Even though he was operation, there was no subsidization of the symptoms and abnormal findings of blood chemistry such as hypercalcemia, hypocalemia were remained unchanged. However, the parathyroid hormone level was still within normal limits. Abdominal computerized tomography scan demonstrated a mass of 2.5cm diameter in tail of the pancreas. As serum level of VIP hormone was also elevated, distal pancreatectomy was carried out to performed. There was improvement in the symptoms towards the normal condition and the level of biochemical parameters such as serum potassium, calcium and VIP, were also within the normal limits. In a direct sequence analysis, GAC-->CAT(Asp-->His) point mutation, at codon 383 of exon 9 of the MEN I gene was identified in both the patient and his son. The authors report a rare case of VIPoma associated with MEN I with review of literature on MEN I.
Aged ; Calcium ; Chemistry ; Codon ; Diarrhea ; Exons ; Gastrins ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Paralysis ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroidectomy ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; Point Mutation ; Potassium ; Sequence Analysis ; Vipoma*