Effects of somatostatin, LHRH and TGF-(alpha) on epithelial cell proliferation in fetal stomach maintained in organ culture

ABSTRACT

An organ culture technique was used to examine the effects of somatostatin, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha) on epithelial cell proliferation in rat fetal stomach. The explants were obtained from 20-day rat fetuses and were maintained in organ culture for 24 h. Half of the culture dishes were supplemented with 10 percent fetal bovine serum (FBS). Cell proliferation was assessed using the metaphasic index. Light and electron microscopy showed that the explants could be mainteined in good condition, independent of the FBS or hormone treatment. Re-epithelialization occurred at the edges of the fragments. The addition of 10 percent FBS was not advantageous for evaluation cell proliferation in this organ culture system. The low metaphasic index showed that somatostatin and LHRH significantly inhibited cell proliferation after 24 h of treatment. In contrast, TGF-alpha had a mitogenic effect on fetal gastric mucosa and prevented glandular degeneration. These results corroborate our previous studies in vivo and provide direct evidence of the influence of hormonal and growth factors on gastric mucosa during fetal development.