[Dynamics of "reverse development" of dystrophic changes in the epithelium of the fundal gastric glands]

Electron-microscopy investigations of the gastric mucosa in 23 patients at various periods following the cessation of the course of a therapeutic fasting diet lasting 20-30 days were carried out. It was shown that oxidation of infiltrative lipids in cover cells and elimination of a great number of residual bodies accumulated in the process of fasting and representing a morphologic manifestation of fat dystrophy, proceeded very intensively and completed in 2 days after the start of taking food. Purification of cells developed mainly in the direction opposite to that of elimination of secretion products. Myelin figures (residual bodies of cytolysosomas) which were to be eliminated from the cell, escaped into the lumen of broadened intercellular spaces and passing along them they reached the basal parts of the cell, then they pass through the basal membrane into lamina propia of the stomach mucosa and penetrate through the capillary wall into the vascular bed. Restoration of the normal ultrastructure of the secretory cells is a lengthy process and it finishes, depending upon the individual feature of the organism, on the 15-20th day from the start of taking food.