Ultrastructural study of antral G cells in patients with duodenal ulcer: effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: It is established now that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with exaggerated gastrin release to meals and other stimuli and that the abnormal secretion of gastrin is reversed after successful treatment of the infection. By comparing morphology of G cells from the same patients before and after treatment, we were able to investigate the ultrastructural effect of cure of H. pylori on G cells. METHODS: Gastric mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 patients with duodenal ulcer before and 3, 6, and 9 months after cure of H. pylori infection. Negative controls consisted of four healthy volunteers without H. pylori infection. G cells were evaluated by immunohistochemical and electron microscopy. Treatment with H2-antagonists was continued for 6 months after cure of the H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Ultrastructural studies of secretory granules of antral G cells in controls displayed a broad range of electron density ranging from dark with a full appearance to totally electron-lucent with a "vacuolating" appearance. In duodenal ulcer patients before treatment, electron-lucent vacuolating granules predominated. After elimination of H. pylori, G-cell granules showed a marked increase in electron density close to that of controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the density of granules of G cells is decreased in H. pylori-infected duodenal ulcer patients compared to that in H. pylori-negative controls and is consistent with enhanced gastrin release. Cure of H. pylori infection was associated with return to normal density of G-cell granules.

[Newly developed ultrasonic micro-probe (15MHz), basic and clinical study for gastrointestinal lesions].

The authors evaluated a new device the ultrasonic micro-probe (2.4mm in the outer diameter, radial scanning system, 15MHz, Toshiba Co.) from both its basic and clinical aspects using resected gastric specimens and clinical subjects. The ultrasonic resolution of this new ultrasound imaging catheter was demonstrated to be best the probe-object distance was 1.0-3.0mm and angle of inclination was 0-20. On clinical use of the probe, the above-mentioned basic evaluation is important to achieve high resolution ultrasonic image. For attenuation of ultrasound due to the high-frequency (15MHz), the main subjects of this probe for evaluation of gastrointestinal tract are small lesions of mucosal-submucosal layers. Because of its small caliber (2.4mm), the micro-probe can be passed through the biopsy channel of common used endoscope, and permits the intra-luminal ultrasound examination at routine endoscopy, if necessary. This new device the ultrasonic micro-probe will develop the ability of endoscopic ultrasound in diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.