[Adaptive duodenal endocrine cell changes after antrectomy. Experimental study in the rat]

The known gastric endocrine relationship between "G" cells and "D" cells is altered after the loss of antral "G" cell population after antrectomy, leading to physiologic adaptative changes over the cell population producing gastrin and somatostatin in the duodenum, replacing thus the endocrine function of the resected gastric antrum. In this experimental study, Sprague-Dawley rats have been randomized in two groups, Control and Antrectomy with gastroduodenostomy, maintaining the alimentary stimulation of the duodenum. Endocrine "G" and "D" cell studies have been carried out by immunohistochemical staining with an Avidin-Biotin affinity technique. The statistical method used was the "t" test of Student. The results demonstrated a significant increase of the duodenal "G" cell population without changes of the duodenal "D" cell population after antrectomy and gastroduodenostomy. The endocrine cell ratio "G/D" in the duodenum increases due to the loss of antral gastrin release and the decrease of gastric acid output provoked by antrectomy.