Short term infusion of glycine-extended gastrin(17) stimulates both proliferation and formation of aberrant crypt foci in rat colonic mucosa

Abstract

Evidence is accumulating that gastrin precursors may act as growth factors for the colonic mucosa in vivo and for colorectal carcinoma cell lines in vitro. The effect of short term administration of synthetic gastrins on the colonic mucosa in vivo, however, has not been reported. The aim of our study was to determine whether continuous systemic infusion of glycine-extended gastrin(17) stimulated proliferation and accelerated carcinogenesis in the colorectal mucosa. A significant increase in colonic mucosal proliferation as assessed by metaphase index was seen in the caecum (23%, p < 0.02) and distal colon (27%, p < 0.001), but not the rectum, after treatment of intact rats with glycine-exten..