Antral G-cell in gastrin and gastrin-cholecystokinin knockout animals
Author
Summary, in English
The antral hormone gastrin is the key regulator of gastric acid secretion, mucosal growth and differentiation. Gastrin is synthesized in the endocrine G-cells in the antroduodenal mucosa. We have now examined the way in which the loss of gastrin alone or gastrin plus cholecystokinin (CCK) affects the antral G-cell. Immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques were employed to examine the expression of genes belonging to the G-cell secretory pathway in gastrin and gastrin-CCK knockout mice. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructure of the G-cells. The number of G-cells increased but the secretory granules were few and abnormally small in the G-cells of both mouse models compared with wildtypes. Thus, gastrin is not necessary for the formation of G-cells as such but the lack of gastrin reduces the number and size of their secretory granules suggesting that gastrin is vital for the formation and/or maintenance of secretory granules in G-cells.
Department/s
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Pages
141-146
Publication/Series
Cell and Tissue Research
Volume
321
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Cell Biology
Keywords
- transgenic mice
- ultrastructure
- G-cells
- secretion
- gastrin
- cholecystokinin
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1432-0878