A quantitative study of enteric endocrine cells in celiac sprue.

A quantitative morphological investigation of eight endocrine cell types in mucosal biopsies from adults with untreated celiac sprue was undertaken. The quantitative data expressed as cells per millimeter of epithelium most accurately reflected the changes seen in celiac disease, as it takes into account changes in mucosal thickness due to the absence of villi in celiac biopsies. The results showed significant increases in the number of cholecystokinin and enterochromaffin cells, a significant decrease in somatostatin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide and secretin cells, and no change in the motilin, gastrin, and glicentin cells. Significant changes in cell size (cross-sectional area) were also demonstrated in the somatostatin and gastrin cells which were smaller in the celiac biopsies.