Dehydrogenase Activity and Gastric Secretion in Gastritis

Abstract

In 43 adults suction biopsies from the fundus or the body of the stomach were obtained with a Crosby-Kugler's biopsy capsule. One-half of the biopsy specimen was fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and stained with H & E. Cryostat sections from the other half of the specimen were incubated with Nitro-BT and the specific substrate to demonstrate the activity of SD, NAD, and NADP, respectively. An augmented histamine-test was performed in all patients after an overnight fast. In 10 patients with normal gastric mucosa the activity of SD, NAD, and NADP was most pronounced in the parietal cells. In 18 patients with superficial gastritis a similar or slightly decreased dehydrogenase activity was observed, and the secretion of gastric juice and hydrochloric acid did not differ significantly from that found in the subjects with normal gastric mucosa. Except for a markedly reduced NAD activity in the surface epithelium, slight or no reduction of the dehydrogenase activity was observed in the eight patients showing atrophic gastritis, and the secretion of gastric juice and hydrochloric acid was significantly lower than in the subjects with normal gastric mucosa and in those with superficial gastritis. In the surface and foveolar epithelium of the seven patients with intestinal metaplasia a markedly or slightly increased activity of all dehydrogenases examined was observed. The chief cells demonstrated an unaltered dehydrogenase activity, whereas the parietal cells showed a markedly or slightly decreased dehydrogenase activity. The secretion of gastric juice and hydrochloric acid were not significantly lower than in the patients with atrophic gastritis.