[Relationship of enzyme activity of the gastric mucosa with microcirculation and acid output]

The aim was to study the gastric blood flow due to acid output and enzyme systems of GM. The study included 14 healthy young and 20 healthy elderly people without atrophic changes in GM. Blood flow in microvessels GM was determined by laser Doppler flowmeter, acid output was assessed by 24-hours pH-monitoring, the activity of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase and nitric oxide synthase in biopsies GM was determined by standard biochemical methods. In normal elderly people a significant reduction in blood flow in the microvessels of the secretory zone of GM (large curvature, front and back wall in the body stomach) accompanied by a decrease in the activity of NO-synthase was found. Acid output and activity of H(+)-K(+)-ATPase of parietal cells in the same area do not decreases with age. However, older patients demonstrated a higher level of blood flow in the secretory zone combined with a higher acid output, which indicates that the increase in the level of blood flow values for hydrochloric acid secretion in older people.