Gastrin cell populations after highly selective vagotomy in the dog

Abstract

Highly selective vagotomy was performed on five dogs. Postoperatively, gastrin cell (G cell) hyperplasia occurred in all dogs. Mean preoperative G cell numbers increased from 350 to 530/cm mucosal length (p less than 0.02). Antral tissue gastrin also increased by 100 per cent (6.7 x 10(6) to 13.7 x 10(6) pg/gm tissue, p less than 0.05). Basal and stimulated serum gastrin were unchanged following highly selective vagotomy. The cause for G cell hyperplasia is not clear, but is probably multifactorial.