Absorptive Function of Intestinal Metaplasia of the Stomach

Abstract

Emulsified and partly solubilized triolein, medium chain triglycerides, and oleic acid were administered into the stomach of 30 patients, of whom 12 had diffuse intestinal metaplasia of the body mucosa. The validity of the method was checked by administration of the same fat emulsions into the distal duodenum of 10 patients. Gastric biopsies were obtained before, and 30 and 60 minutes and 24 hours after administration of fat.

Fat droplets (Oil red O stain) were constantly seen in duodenal mucosa after administration of the various emulsions. After intragastric administration of triolein emulsion containing up to 25 per cent of micellar fat, fat droplets were seen in a few intestinal metaplastic tubules of two patients only. Normal mucosa and pseudopyloric metaplasia were not stained. After administration of medium chain triglycerides, normal mucosa was not stained; however, many metaplastic brush border cells, the lamina propria, and some normal-looking mucous surface epithelial cells showed distinct fat droplets. After 24 hours fat droplets had disappeared from intestinal cells and the lamina propria; some mucous surface cells, however, still revealed some staining. Oleic acid seemed to be rather easily taken up and transported further by intestinal metaplastic cells. The results of electron microscopic examinations, however, were inconclusive.

Key-words:

• Stomach
• gastritis
• absorption