Gastrin protection against chemically induced gastric adenocarcinomas in Wistar rats: histopathology of the glandular stomach and incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma

Abstract

The effects of gastrin on the histopathology of the glandular stomach and on the incidence of gastric carcinoma induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in inbred Wistar (W) rats. Prolonged administration of gastrin after treatment with MNNG significantly reduced the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the glandular stomach. In addition, atypical glandular proliferations were significantly less frequent and were smaller, and the incidence of marked mucosal atrophy was significantly reduced in both the antral and oxyntic gland mucosae. Both atypical glandular hyperplasia and mucosal atrophy are precursors of gastric cancers; prolonged administration of gastrin to rats after treatment with MNNG suppressed development of precursors of gastric cancer and so prevented development of gastric cancers.