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Biomedical subjects

R A Goodlad

Publications and source records attributed to R A Goodlad.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Insulin and intestinal epithelial cell proliferation.

The effects of modification of the levels of endogenous plasma insulin on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation were investigated in rats maintained by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) using either a TPN diet that was high in glucose, or a low glucose (hypocaloric) TPN diet and in orally fed rats (normal and sham operated). The rats were put on their respective treatments for 7 days and were then injected with vincristine sulphate to arrest cells as they entered metaphase. Intestinal tissue was fixed for the determination of crypt cell production rate (CCPR) and blood plasma was taken for hormone radioimmunoassay. Sham operation had no effect on either plasma hormone levels or on CCPR. The standard TPN diet was associated with significantly reduced levels of gastrin, peptide YY and enteroglucagon. Gastrin and PYY were further reduced by the hypocaloric diet. However, plasma insulin was much increased in the TPN but not in the hypocaloric group. Small intestinal CCPR was reduced in the TPN groups, but no difference was observed between the standard and the low calorie TPN diets. The lack of difference in CCPR between the two TPN diets despite the massive elevation of plasma insulin strongly suggests that insulin does not have a substantial role in the control of gastrointestinal epithelial cell renewal.

Administration, Oral↗

Evaluation of a proposed technique to assess unscheduled DNA synthesis and genotoxicity.

Results from a recent, new assay suggest that omeprazole, a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, is genotoxic. The principle of this assay is that the non-proliferating zone of surface gastric epithelial cells can be selectively removed by controlled digestion so that any incorporation of tritiated thymidine into these cells represents unscheduled DNA synthesis. Parietal cells (which are located below the uppermost proliferating cells) and proliferating cells in semiconservative, regular DNA synthesis could always be shown in the digested fraction, and as regular DNA synthesis takes up a thousand fold more thymidine than unscheduled DNA synthesis, any signal from unscheduled synthesis would therefore be swamped. The digestion process was also uneven, as histological analysis showed denuded patches of mucosa, and gland like structures were seen in the digest. Quantification of the number of silver grains over the nuclei showed no increase in low level labelling after omeprazole administration, indicating that there was no unscheduled DNA synthesis. The labelling index of undigested gastric tissue from omeprazole treated rats was not significantly different from that of the control group, despite an increase in the plasma gastrin value.

Animals↗

Colonic cell proliferation and growth fraction in young, adult and old rats.

Colonic epithelial proliferation was investigated in three groups of rats, aged 3, 60 and 121 weeks. As reported in previous work, the crypts were markedly longer in the young rats, and the number of labelled cells per crypt was significantly greater. There was an upward movement of the marker positions derived from the distribution of labelled cells within the crypt of the young rats. This was a consequence of the increased crypt length, so that the growth fraction, as expressed as a percentage of crypt length, was the same. The proliferative changes between the young rats and the other aged rats were therefore effected by altering the size of the crypts, while maintaining the kinetic organisation. There was no evidence of any proliferative changes or changes in the growth fraction when the colons of the old rats were compared with those of the 60 week old rats.

Aging↗

Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and misoprostol on gastroduodenal epithelial proliferation in arthritis.

In this study, quantitation of the epithelial proliferation status of gastric glands and duodenal crypts was performed using endoscopic biopsy specimens from patients with rheumatological conditions requiring long-term anti-inflammatory and analgesic therapy, testing the hypothesis that long-term administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may lead to enhanced epithelial cell proliferation in the stomach and duodenum. After a 1-week washout period from NSAID administration, specimens were taken from endoscopically normal gastric antrum and duodenum, and microdissection was used to quantitate mitoses in these sites. Endoscopy and biopsy were then repeated after 2 weeks of NSAID administration, during which patients received in addition either the prostaglandin E1 analogue misoprostol (10 patients) or a placebo (10 patients). Mitotic counts in gastric glands increased similarly and significantly in the two groups from (mean +/- SEM) 4.45 +/- 0.57 to 7.69 +/- 1.08 (P less than 0.001) in the NSAID+placebo-treated group and from 4.31 +/- 0.53 to 7.68 +/- 1.08 (P = 0.006) in the NSAID+misoprostol-treated group. Similar changes took place in the duodenal crypts, from 5.44 +/- 0.68 to 8.60 +/- 1.28 (P = 0.013) in the NSAID+placebo-treated group and from 4.68 +/- 0.56 to 6.35 +/- 0.63 (P = 0.011) in the NSAIDs+misoprostol-treated group. NSAIDs increased the proportion of glands and crypts with bifid or more complex architectural forms. In a small group of patients, misoprostol alone did not alter mitotic rate in glands or crypts over 4 weeks. Thus, NSAIDs increase the rate of proliferation in endoscopically normal gastric and duodenal epithelium of patients with arthritis. This may form one of the mechanisms underlying gastric and duodenal adaptation to NSAIDs.

Adult↗

Soy polysaccharide in an enteral diet: Effects on rat intestinal cell proliferation, morphology and metabolic function.

The present study was conducted to compare the effect of soy polysaccharide (SP)-supplemented and fibre-free enteral diets and a normal chow diet on intestinal and colonic adaptation of rat gastrointestinal morphometrics and cytokinetics. Results showed that the fibre-free diet caused a significant decrease in various gut parameters, such as cell proliferation, tissue wet weight, and intestinal brush border enzymes, when compared to the normal gut of chow-fed rats. However the SP-supplemented enteral diet resulted in a significant improvement in several parameters in most regions along the gastrointestinal tract, when compared to orally-fed animals. These studies demonstrate that significant changes occur in the intestine as a result of enteral diets, with regional variation. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that SP stimulates crypt cell proliferation which could, in part, hasten recovery from intestinal mucosal damage. The addition of SP to enteral diets seems potentially advantageous.

Journal Article↗

Cell proliferation in the small intestine and colon of intravenously fed rats: effects of urogastrone-epidermal growth factor.

There is marked intestinal hypoplasia in the intestine of intravenously fed (TPN) rats. Recombinant urogastrone-epidermal growth factor (URO-EGF) reversed these changes by significantly increasing the length of the intestinal crypts. Crypt diameter, however, was not affected to the same extent. Few differences in labelling indices were seen between the orally fed and TPN groups, however, this was the consequence of the concomitant changes in crypt population. The number of mitoses and labelled cells per crypt, and thus the crypt cell production rates, were significantly decreased in the TPN group when compared to the orally fed. URO-EGF significantly increased both proliferative indices and the number of dividing cells per crypt. Crypt cell production in the small intestine was restored to those levels seen in the orally fed rats, moreover, labelling per crypt in the colon was increased to more than twice that of orally fed rats. The location of the mean labelling position and the half maximum labelling position followed the changes in crypt length in the small intestine, but to a lesser extent; thus the growth fraction was significantly increased in the TPN rats in comparison with the orally fed and the URO-EGF treated groups. Similar changes in these positions were seen in the colon, but the growth fraction was much reduced in the URO-EGF treated rats, as a consequence of the large increase in crypt length without a concomitant alteration in label distribution.

Administration, Oral↗

Plasma and tissue hormones in the dog after administration of the prostaglandin analogue, misoprostol.

Dogs were given a prostaglandin analogue, misoprostol, at a dose that significantly increases gastrointestinal epithelial cell proliferation. Both basal and postprandial concentrations of gastrin were significantly higher in the misoprostol-treated dogs and more than doubled after the meal in both the controls and in the test group. Plasma enteroglucagon, cholecystokinin, insulin and glucose-dependent insulinotrophic peptide all increased postprandially, with no effect of misoprostol. Tissue concentrations of bombesin, gastrin and somatostatin were unaffected by misoprostol, but the fundic glucagon-like immunoreactivity was significantly increased. Thus high doses of misoprostol have only minor effects on gastrointestinal regulatory peptides, suggesting that the trophic effect of prostaglandins on the intestinal tract may be direct.

Animals↗

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the processes of mucosal cell proliferation associated with duodenal ulcer healing.

We demonstrate that, in patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), there is inhibition of the proliferation of mucosal cells that normally leads to healing of duodenal ulcers. A microdissection technique was used to quantitate mitosis in duodenal crypts at the ulcer edge, giving a regeneration index of mitotic rate at that site, as compared to nearby mucosa. In patients with duodenal ulcers occurring in the absence of NSAID therapy, there was a brisk regenerative response (median index 2.48, range 1.55-9.81, n = 8), significantly greater than in patients taking NSAIDs (median index 1.10, range 0.73-2.16, n = 10, p = 0.014). Inhibition of the process of epithelial cell division normally involved in duodenal ulcer healing could contribute to the delay in ulcer healing which may explain the higher complication rate for duodenal ulcer during NSAID therapy.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Hypergastrinaemia: a new mechanism.

The mechanism by which lack of gastric acid causes hypergastrinaemia was investigated in seven patients with pernicious anaemia. Perfusion of gastric juice from the fasting patients (adjusted to pH 7.0) into the stomachs of conscious rats caused a significant rise in plasma gastrin (median 14 [range 2-20] pmol/l to 27 [12-65] pmol/l; p less than 0.01), whereas perfusion of bicarbonate buffer (18 [13-23] pmol/l to 20 [9-25] pmol/l) or gastric juice from a duodenal ulcer patient (also pH 7.0; 13 [3-30] pmol/l to 17 [9-27] pmol/l) had no significant effect. During gastric lavage at pH 7.0 the median plasma gastrin concentration of the pernicious anaemia patients fell from 320 (63-1760) pmol/l to 125 (46-760) pmol/l (p less than 0.03).

Aged↗

Morphometry and cell proliferation in endoscopic biopsies: evaluation of a technique.

A simple method for the quantification of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in humans was evaluated. Endoscopic biopsy specimens were stained and microdissected, and the number of mitoses per gland or crypt was determined, as was the area of these units. The technique could readily be applied to tissue from the stomach, small intestine colon, and rectum. The number of mitoses and the size of the proliferative compartments increased caudally from the stomach to the cecum in humans. There was a good correlation between area and mitoses per gland or per crypt (r = 0.89; P less than 0.001), confirming the general equivalence between proliferative rate and compartment size. The method was validated by comparing microdissection-derived data with data previously obtained as part of an autoradiography-based study in the dog. This showed that similar differences in proliferation and crypt cell mass could be obtained but in less than one sixth of the time taken to score autoradiographs. It is concluded that this method for the estimation of gastrointestinal epithelial proliferation correlates well with other well-established techniques, confers speed as well as accuracy, has an all encompassing denominator, and can thus avoid many of the problems associated with the quantification of tissue sections.

Animals↗

Achlorhydria-induced hypergastrinaemia: the role of bacteria.

1. Studies of Helicobacter pylori show that microbes can alter gastrin release. Lack of gastric acid (achlorhydria) causes hypergastrinaemia and allows bacteria to grow within the stomach. We speculated that the bacteria contribute to the rise in gastrin seen after acid inhibition, and tested the idea by comparing plasma gastrin levels during inhibition of acid secretion between germ-free and conventional rats. 2. Matched germ-free and conventional rats (n = 8 per group) received either vehicle (saline) or one of two doses of the histamine-H2-receptor antagonist loxtidine for 1 week. Gastrin was measured in cardiac blood by a specific r.i.a. 3. Plasma gastrin concentrations in germ-free and conventional rats were 59 +/- 11 pmol/l (mean +/- SEM) and 36 +/- 8 pmol/l, respectively, after vehicle, and 153 +/- 30 pmol/l and 181 +/- 27 pmol/l, respectively, after loxtidine at a dose of 10 mg day -1 kg -1, which partially inhibits acid secretion. Administration of loxtidine at a dose of 70 mg day -1 kg-1, which completely inhibits acid secretion, did not produce a significant extra rise in plasma gastrin concentration in germ-free rats (178 +/- 11 pmol/l), but further elevated plasma gastrin concentrations to 278 +/- 26 pmol/l in conventional rats (P less than 0.005 compared with germ-free rats). 4. Loxtidine produced a dose-dependent rise in the number of eosinophils in the gastric mucosa of conventional rats. 5. We conclude that partial inhibition of gastric acid secretion increases gastrin release independently of bacteria, but that bacteria are involved in the further rise in gastrin which occurs on more profound inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

Achlorhydria↗

Effects of the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol on cell proliferation in the canine small intestine.

While there are several reports of prostaglandins of the E series being associated with increased mucosal mass in the stomach, their effects on the small intestine are less well documented. A microdissection-based technique was used to measure proliferation and crypt size in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of dogs given the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol. Six test and six control animals were given an oral dose of 300 micrograms kg-1 day-1 of misoprostol for 11 weeks, a dose-duration combination chosen to optimize the development of gastric hyperplasia. Misoprostol increased both the area of the crypts (P less than 0.001) and the number of mitoses per crypt (P = 0.002) throughout the small intestine. The technique also demonstrated a significant gradient in crypt size and in crypt area from the duodenum to the ileum. There was no statistical interaction between misoprostol and the site studied, suggesting that this trophic effect was systemic or systemically mediated.

Animals↗

Glucagon 1-21 reduces intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in parenterally fed rats.

The hypothesis that glucagon 1-21 (G1-21) is trophic to the gastrointestinal tract was investigated in the hypoplastic intestine of intravenously maintained rats. Three groups of eight rats were fed parenterally for three days and then were infused with either 0, 20 or 80 micrograms rat-1 day-1 of G1-21 for 3 days. No significant effect on the weight of the stomach, caecum or colon was observed, but both the weight and crypt cell production rate of the small intestine were significantly decreased by G1-21. Plasma enteroglucagon was also decreased by G1-21 treatment. It is concluded that G1-21 does not have a trophic effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and, in fact, has an antiproliferative effect on the small intestine, which could in turn be modulated by decreased levels of endogenous enteroglucagon.

Animals↗

Effects of urogastrone-epidermal growth factor on intestinal brush border enzymes and mitotic activity.

The wet weight of the stomach, small intestine, caecum, and colon were significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) in intravenously fed rats compared with orally fed controls. Human epidermal growth factor (urogastrone) reversed this atrophy. Detailed analysis of the small intestine showed a similar effect on intestinal crypt cell population, mitoses per crypt, and protein content. Brush border gamma glutamyltransferase and alpha glucosidase activities were reduced by up to 50% throughout the small intestine of the animals fed intravenously. The specific activities (mU/mg protein) were unchanged, as a concomitant decrease in the tissue weight and protein content also occurred. Intestinal brush border enzyme activities in the rats treated with urogastrone-epidermal growth factor were restored to those seen in the orally fed rats except for alpha glucosidase activity in the proximal gut. In addition, the specific activity of gamma glutamyltransferase was highly significantly increased (p less than 0.01) in all regions of the small intestine. Thus, although urogastrone administration prevents the decrease in brush border enzyme activity seen after the removal of luminal nutrition, the response seems to differ depending on the intestinal location, with the specific activities of some enzymes being higher than those seen in orally fed rats. Urogastrone-epidermal growth factor can thus significantly increase the functional ability of the intestine in addition to its trophic effects.

Animals↗

Prostaglandins and the colonic epithelium. Effects of misoprostol on crypt size, cell production, and cell migration in the dog.

Colonic epithelial cell division, cell migration, and cell transit were investigated in dogs given 300 micrograms.kg-1.day-1 of the prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol, for 11 weeks. The animals were then injected with [3H]thymidine and killed at timed intervals. The distribution of labeled and mitotic cells within the crypts was determined by scoring autoradiographs. There were no significant differences in mitotic index or labeling index between the two groups. The data were pooled and converted to give crypt cell production rates of 51.1 +/- 11.1 (control) and 58.24 +/- 8.6 cells per crypt per hour (test). However, the crypt length and cell population were slightly, but significantly, greater in the misoprostol-treated group (P less than 0.01). The movement of the wave of labeled cells with time after injection was used to calculate the median cell migration rates, which were 23.50 +/- 3.03 cell positions per day (control) and 18.30 +/- 2.56 (test). Thus, misoprostol had no significant effect on either the cell migration rate or the transit rates.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on mucosal cell proliferation associated with gastric ulcer healing.

To find out whether non-steroidial anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the proliferation of mucosal cells that normally leads to healing of gastric ulcers a microdissection technique was used to quantify mitosis in gastric glands at the ulcer edge in relation to that in the adjacent mucosa. The regeneration index thus obtained of the ulcer edge was greater in the 9 subjects with gastric ulcers not taking NSAIDs (mean index 3.1 [SEM 0.61]) than that in the 8 patients taking NSAIDs (index 1.49 [0.16]). In rats in which gastric ulcers were produced with a cryoprobe, the ulcers were larger and slower to heal in those receiving indomethacin than in controls; also, immunohistochemical staining indicated significantly fewer mitotic cells in glands adjacent to the ulcer in indomethacin-treated rats (8 mitoses [SEM 3]) than in control animals (25 [5]). The prostaglandin E1 analogue misoprostol reversed the inhibition of healing and substantially restored the proliferative rate in the animals. Inhibition of epithelial cell division normally involved in gastric ulcer healing would contribute to the high prevalence of gastric ulcer during NSAID therapy.

Adult↗

Effects of misoprostol on cell migration and transit in the dog stomach.

Prostaglandins of the E series increase stomach mucosal mass by inducing hyperplasia, which could be the result either of increased cell production or of decreased cell loss. This report describes an investigation of the effect of the prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol, on cell migration and transit. 3H-thymidine was used to label those cells synthesizing deoxyribonucleic acid in dogs that had been given an oral dose of 300 micrograms/kg per day misoprostol for 11 weeks. The animals were killed at timed intervals, and tissue from the gastric fundus was prepared for autoradiography. The distribution of labeled cells at various times after labeling was used to follow the movement of the wave of label and to calculate median cell migration rates and transit times. The migration rate of cells toward the gastric lumen was significantly increased from 1.4 +/- 0.3 to 3.6 +/- 0.6 cell positions per day in the misoprostol-treated group (p less than 0.001); however, the gland length (from the most basal mucous neck cell to the luminal surface) was also increased (from 52.1 +/- 1.1 to 74.0 +/- 1.6; p less than 0.001), thus there was no significant difference in the (transit) time taken for cells to reach the top of the gland (control, 17.5 +/- 9.8 days; test, 12.2 +/- 7.1 days).

Alprostadil↗