Gastric Secretion of Mucus Related to Adrenocortical Activity. A Histochemical Study in the Rat

Abstract

The occurrence of PAS-positive substance, i. e. mucin, in the gastric mucosa of the rat was studied in an experimental series of adrenalectomized and of sham-operated animals with and without administration of defined corticosteroids. Adrenalectomy resulted in an increased amount of mucinous substance in the gastric mucosa. This was especially evident after 14 days, when mucin-producing cells were observed deep down in the gastric mucosa. Cortisone acetate, and especially prednisolone, administered both to animals with intact adrenal glands and to adrenalectomized animals reduced the amount of mucin in the mucosa in relation to comparable controls, while desoxycorticosterone acetate had no such effect.

Key-words:

• Adrenalectomy
• adrenal cortex hormones
• gastric mucin