G cells and gastrin release from human antral mucosa in vitro

Using an in vitro perfusion technique, the release of immunoreactive gastrin (IRG) from human antral mucosa has been investigated, and comparisons made between the release of IRG and the G cell numbers within the tissue. Serosal stimulation with acetyle choline (5.504 x 10(-12)M conc.) resulted in a significantly greater release of IRG from the tissue when compared with release from unstimulated tisse from the same patient (4666 +/- 1656 fM/ml. stimulated; 274 +/- 130 fM/ml. unstimulated (T = 2.64; P < 0.02). A wide variation in G cell numbers was found between tissues and within tissue, and there was no significant correlation between the gastrin secreted and the G cell population. Stimulation with acetyl choline resulted in a 68.8% reduction in G cell numbers compared with a 56.7% reduction in unstimulated tissue, but these were not significantly different (T = 1.68; P > 0.1). No significant correlation was found between the reduction in G cell numbers detected by immunohistology and the IRG secreted by the tissues.