[Endocrine cells of the gastroduodenal area in duodenal ulcer]

A study has been carried out to substantiate the assumption that excessive proliferation of major gastroduodenal endocrine cells may be predetermined genetically. Hereditary predisposition to the hyperplasia of cells belonging to the APUD system may be inherited both through the male and female lines. Duodenal ulcers (DU) undoubtedly involves multifactorial inheritance. Acquired capacity for endocrine cell hyperplasia cannot be excluded in some of DU patients. The development of DU is, apparently, related to the formation of a pathological system, based on pathologic structure-linked neurohormonal relationships between the duodenum and peripheral and central nervous systems that enhance nerve impulses in the duodenal bulbar portion. A sudden "total" catecholamine release occurs at a certain stage and is followed by a change of production/utilization ratios of various hormones that weakens pathologic neurohormonal relationships, destroys the pathologic system and activates the healing process around the ulcer. The pathologic system, active in peptic ulcers, is doubtless counteracted by a system, whose activity must be determined by the number of endocrine cells with beta-endorphine-like and, perhaps, serotonin-like immunoreactivity. The antagonistic regulation principle is of great universal significance for general biology. It is essential for healing and chronization processes.