The effect of gastrin and CCK-like peptides on epithelial cell proliferation in the stomach.

The growth promoting effect of gastrin on the glandular stem cells and parietal cells of the oxyntic mucosa has been confirmed by several observations. Gastrin has no effect on the antral mucosa. Cholecystokinin, another trophic hormone, stimulates cell proliferation in the exocrine pancreas, duodenum and gallbladder but not in the oxyntic mucosa. More recently, we have observed that caerulein stimulates epithelial cell proliferation in the antrum. The following is seen after acute administration of this cholecystokinin analog: a, after 18 h, there is an increased nuclear 3H-thymidine uptake in the progenitor cells of the antral mucosa and b, after 24 h, there is a mitotic peak. Continuous delivery of caerulein through implanted osmotic minipumps increases not only the mucosal DNA synthesis index and mitotic index, but also the migration rate of the epithelial cells along the glandular tubes.