Influence of the colonic patch mucosa on antral gastrin regulation

Although the colon has been currently used as an oesophageal and gastric substitute, the influence of the transposed colonic mucosa on gastrin regulation remains poorly understood. In our research study we investigated the influence of the colon to antrum transposition on gastrin release and G-cell proliferation in both vagally innervated and denervated stomachs. Fifty rats were divided into 5 equal groups and underwent the following surgical procedures: Group 1 no surgery; Group 2 a standard portion (10mm ²) of the anterior surface of the antrum, including the pyloric sphincter, was removed and the defect was closed using a 10mm segment of transverse colon, shaped as a patch; Group 3 (control group) the same procedure as in Group 2, closing the antral defect by a direct duodeno-gastric anastomosis; Group 4 the same procedure as in Group 2, adding truncal vagotomy; Group 5 (control group) the same procedure as in Group 3, adding truncal vagotomy. Three weeks after surgery, the rats of each group underwent fasting and stimulated serum gastrin determinations. Four weeks after surgery, the remaining antrum was evaluated for gastrin cell count. In rats without vagotomy, the colonic patch implantation resulted in a significant decrease in fasting serum gastrin, with respect to control rats, while it did not affect stimulated serum gastrin. No significant differences were observed in G-cell density. In rats with truncal vagotomy, the colonic patch implantation did not affect fasting and stimulated serum gastrin nor G-cell density.