The antral gastrin-producing cells in duodenal ulcer patients. A density study before and during treatment with cimetidine.

A density study of the antral gastrin-producing cells has been performed, before and after eight weeks of treatment with a histamine H2-receptor antagonist (cimetidine 1 g per day), in a series of 38 patients suffering from chronic duodenal ulcer. The treatment produced a significant increase in numerical density and a decrease in mean cell volume. The volume density of the cells was unchanged, suggesting that the elevated serum-gastrin during treatment may be the result of gastrin-cell hyperplasia, without change in the total gastrin-cell volume. The authors suggest that G-cell hyperplasia demonstrated during cimetidine treatment may be a factor of importance with regard to the rapid recurrence of many ulcers after discontinuation of the treatment.