Studies of Intestinal Metaplasia in the Gastric Mucosa by Detection of Disaccharidases With “Tes-Tape”2

Abstract

The range and intensity of intestinal metaplasia in the gastric mucosa were estimated by visualizing the activities of disaccharidases with Tes- Tape. In instances of stomach cancer and ulcer, the incidence and intensity of sucrase and maltase activities were high in the antrum and lowest along the greater curvature, especially on the oral side. The area giving a positive reaction for maltase was wider than that for sucrase and the color reaction for maltase was stronger than that for sucrase in the area where both reactions were positive. Trehalase activity was detected in some cases. The trehalase reaction was closely associated with the area where the alkaline phosphatase reaction was positive and where Paneth's cells were observed histologically. The area giving a sucrase reaction coincided well with the area where appearance of intestinalization was proved histologically by the presence of goblet cells, but was not related to the presence of Paneth's cells.