Qualitative and Quantitative Studies of Antral and Fundic G Cells in Pernicious Anaemia

Abstract

Polak, J. M., Hoffbrand, A. V., Reed. P. I., Bloom, S. & Pearse, A. G. E. 1973. Qualitative and Quantitative Studies of Antral and Fundic G Cells in Pernicious Anaemia. Scand. J. Gastroent 8, 361-367.

Samples of antral and fundic mucosa from 4 cases of pernicious anaemia, 2 cases of atrophic gastritis and 2 normal controls, were examined by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Gross G cell hyperplasia was observed, by both techniques, in the pernicious anaemia cases and the cells were found to be substantially degranulated. T. V. Image Conversion Analysis of the immunofluorescence preparations indicated gastrin levels per unit area as 4 to 5 times greater than normal. The true degree of G cell hyperplasia was not reflected by these figures, however. Comparisons between antral mucosa samples from PA and from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (Type I), where the degree of hyperplasia of the fully granulated G cells may reach 30 X, indicated the true degree of hyperplasia as up to 50 X the normal value. These findings are in full agreement with the results of serum gastrin assay in pernicious anaemia.

Key-words::

• G cells
• immunofluorescence
• pernicious anaemia
• ultrastructure