AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 250, Issue 5 633-G638, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Does corticosterone affect gastric mucosal cell growth during development?
C. C. Tseng and L. R. Johnson
The effect of corticosterone on the growth of the gastric mucosa was
investigated during development. The weight of the mucosa and DNA, RNA, and
protein content were used as parameters of growth. The pepsinogen content
of the oxyntic gland was examined as an indicator of the biological action
of corticosterone on development. Corticosterone-treated animals had lower
body weights than control animals on days 10-20. This difference was not
seen on day 25. Corticosterone administration during the first and second
postnatal weeks induced the precocious appearance of pepsinogen in the
oxyntic gland mucosa and increased basal acid output. These effects
disappeared by day 25. The weight of the mucosa and DNA, RNA, and protein
content of the oxyntic gland and antrum increased with age, but
corticosterone had no effect on any of these parameters. We conclude that
the induction of precocious development of the gastric mucosa by
corticosterone is not due to the stimulation of growth.
