Effects of indomethacin of the gastroduodenal mucosa of the rat: a histological, morphometric and hormonal study

ABSTRACT

The present histological and hormonal investigation showed that the administration of indomethacine produced squamous metaplasia of the gastric mucosa without ulceration. This change was associated with a significant increase in the total number of parietal cells and with a significant decrease in the total number of mucous neck cells. Histochemical reactions showed a marked decrease in the thickness of the surface mucus layer. Hormonal study showed a significant increase in the antral and serum gastrin levels. The presence of parallelism between hypergastrinemia, the increase in the total number of parietal cells and the degree of squamous metaplasia of the gastric mucosa, suggests that indomethacine has injured the latter through increasing serum gastrin level as a primary change