Endogenous hypergastrinemia and cell proliferation in the fundic mucosa in dogs.

Endogenous hypergastrinemia (P less than 0.01) was produced in 4 dogs with a Heidenhain pouch through surgical exclusion of the pyloric antrum. This was followed by acid hypersecrection and increased DNA synthesis and mitotic activity (P less than 0.01) in the mucosa of the Heidenhain pouch. The acid hypersecretion induced by histamine in beeswax in 4 other dogs did not increase the proliferative parameters in the pouch mucosa of the latter. A positive correlation (r = 0.84, P less than 0.01) was found between the serum gastrin levels and the DNA synthesis index values measured in the 4 animals before antral exclusion, after antral exclusion, and after antrectomy. These data support the hypothesis that the trophic effect of gastrin on the fundic mucosa can be elicited by physiological doses of endogenous hormone.