Role of Moringa oleifera on enterochromaffin cell count and serotonin content of experimental ulcer model.

The present study has been undertaken to observe the effect of aqueous extract of M. oleifera (MO) leaf (300mg/kg body weight) on mean ulcer index, enterochromaffin (EC) cells and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) content of ulcerated gastric tissue. Ulceration was induced by using aspirin (500 mg/kg, po), cerebellar nodular lesion and applying cold stress. In all cases increased mean ulcer index in gastric tissue along with decreased EC cell count was observed with concomitant decrease of 5-HT content. Pretreatment with MO for 14 days decreased mean ulcer index, increased both EC cell count and 5-HT content in all ulcerated group, but treatment with ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, along with MO pretreatment increased mean ulcer index, decreased 5-HT content without any alteration in EC cell count. The results suggest that the protective effect of MO on ulceration is mediated by increased EC cell count and 5-HT levels which may act via 5-HT3 receptors on gastric tissue.

Células endócrinas gastrointestinais: breve histórico e principais métodos de identificaçäo à microscopia óptica / Gastrointestinal endocrine cells: brief history and main identification methods under light microscopy

O trato gastrointestinal apresenta um amplo espectro de células endócrinas distribuídas difusamente ao longo da mucosa, intercaladas com as células exócrinas. Essas células compartilham diversas características como a capacidade de produzir vários peptídios. Apesar do grande desenvolvimento da endocrinologia digestiva, especialmente na última década e no que tange ao conhecimento bioquímica e localizaçao celular dos peptídios reguladores gastrointestinais, seu significado funcional e papel na fisiopatologia digestiva permanecem em parte desconhecidos. É apresentado um resumo das principais informaçoes sobre características morfológicas, histoquímicas, origem embriológica, dados históricos e métodos de identificaçao das células endócrinas do trato gastrointestinal.