Gastrin: levels and trophic action during advancing age.

Changes in antral and serum gastrin levels as well as gastrin (G) and somatostatin (D) cell density were examined in 4- to 16-mo-old Fischer-344 rats. In these rats, the responsiveness of the gastric mucosa to the trophic action of gastrin was also examined. It was observed that whereas serum gastrin levels declined steadily between 4 and 16 mo of age, antral gastrin levels rose sharply during this period. In the antrum of 16-mo-old rats, the density of G-cells, but not D-cells, was found to be lower than in their 4-mo-old counterparts. Thus, when D- to G-cell ratios were calculated, 16-mo-old rats revealed a 50% higher D- to G-cell ratio than the 4-mo-old animals. To assess the trophic action of gastrin, groups of 4-, 8-, and 16-mo-old rats were infused subcutaneously (osmotic minipump) with either saline or gastrin (G-17-I; 250 ng.kg-1.h-1) for 14 days. The gastric mucosa was assayed for thymidine kinase (an indicator of proliferative activity) and DNA and protein content. In the saline-infused rats, gastric mucosal thymidine kinase activity increased sharply between 4 and 16 mo of age without significantly affecting DNA or protein content (expressed as milligrams per 100 g of body weight), suggesting that the age-associated rise in proliferative activity is not accompanied by increased mucosal growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)