[Functional-morphologic changes in the gastric and duodenal mucosa during prolonged administration of prednisolone]

A prolonged administration (up to 25 days) of prednisolone to rats (0.4 mg per 100 g of the body mass) reveals some functional-morphological changes in the secretory apparatus and mucin production in the stomach and the duodenum: an increased functional activity of parietal, principle, Ecl- and G-cells of the stomach, Ec-cells and goblet cells of the duodenum (except Ec-cells and goblet cells in the outlet part of the stomach), and by the end of the experiment--hyperplasia of the parietal, G-cells and goblet cells. A conclusion is made that the increased acido-peptic activity of the gastric juice and the erosive-ulcerous complications under a prolonged administration of prednisolone result from an increased functional activity of the fundal glands, G-, Ecl-cells and Ec-cells of the duodenum with a subsequent hyperplasia of the G-cells by the 25th day of the experiment, as well as an insufficient mucin formation in the mucous membrane of the stomach, especially in its outlet part as a consequence of a decreased functional activity of the Ec-cells.