[Gastrin tissue levels in patients with peptic ulcer: a different methodological approach]

The function of G cells has been mainly evaluated by serum gastrin. A different analytical approach considers the direct determination of gastrin levels (ng/g of wet tissue) in perendoscopic biopsies, but, up to now, the results are contradictory. In the present study we evaluated, by means of a RIA method, the concentration of gastrin (ng/g of protein nitrogen) in homogenized gastroduodenal biopsies in 127 patients with peptic ulcer and in 12 dyspeptic patients. The results demonstrated: 1) a significant gradient of gastrin concentrations among the different anatomical sites, according to the distribution of the G cells; 2) a correlation with serum gastrin levels; 3) a good equivalence of gastrin content in adjacent biopsy specimens. This preliminary report indicates that it is possible directly quantitate tissue levels of gastrin by means of an accurate and simple method.