Postprandial cell proliferation in the esophageal epithelium of rats

Food intake is known to trigger cell growth in the mucosa of several gut segments. In this study, the effects of both oral feeding and intragastric feeding on cell proliferation in the esophageal epithelium of rats were examined. A similar study was carried out in antrectomized animals. Refeeding of fasted rats either orally or through an intragastric catheter increased the esophageal epithelial labeling index (LI) 310 and 445%, respectively, while the mitotic index (MI) increased 427 and 217%, respectively. Under the same experimental settings, the serum gastrin values increased 423 and 200%, respectively. After surgical resection of the antrum, a postprandial proliferative wave was still observed in the orally fed rats, with an increase in LI and MI of 114 and 166%, but not in the animals refed through the gastrostomy. This study demonstrates the growth stimulating effect of feeding on the rat esophageal epithelium. This effect appears to be triggered by the mechanical passage of food and the antral release of a systemic factor, which is most probably gastrin.