Intestinal endocrine cells in radiation enteritis

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics; (USA)

OSTI ID:5601731

Pietroletti, R; Blaauwgeers, J L; Taat, C W; Simi, M; Brummelkamp, W H; Becker, A E ^[1]

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1. Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam (Netherlands)

In this study, the intestinal endocrine cells were investigated in 13 surgical specimens affected by radiation enteritis. Endocrine cells were studied by means of Grimelius' silver staining and immunostaining for chromogranin, a general marker of endocrine cells. Positively stained cells were quantified by counting their number per unit length of muscularis mucosa. Results in radiation enteritis were compared with matched control specimens by using Student's t test. Chromogranin immunostaining showed a statistically significant increase of endocrine cells in radiation enteritis specimens compared with controls both in small and large intestine (ileum, 67.5 +/- 23.5 cells per unit length of muscularis mucosa in radiation enteritis versus 17.0 +/- 6.1 in controls; colon, 40.9 +/- 13.7 cells per unit length of muscularis mucosa in radiation enteritis versus 9.5 +/- 4.1 in controls--p less than 0.005 in both instances). Increase of endocrine cells was demonstrated also by Grimelius' staining; however, without reaching statistical significance. It is not clear whether or not the increase of endocrine cells in radiation enteritis reported in this study is caused by a hyperplastic response or by a sparing phenomenon. We should consider that increased endocrine cells, when abnormally secreting their products, may be involved in some of the clinical features of radiation enteropathy. In addition, as intestinal endocrine cells produce trophic substances to the intestine, their increase could be responsible for the raised risk of developing carcinoma of the intestine in long standing radiation enteritis.

• OSTI ID: 5601731
• Journal Information: Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics; (USA), Vol. 169:2; ISSN 0039-6087
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
HISTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES
ENTERITIS
RADIOINDUCTION
INTESTINES
MAN
RADIATION INJURIES
STAINS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
INJURIES
MAMMALS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
VERTEBRATES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man