Gastrin stimulates epithelial cell proliferation in the oesophagus of rats

Gastrin can induce mitotic stimulation in the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach, sometimes leading to abnormal growth. We examined whether gastrin was able to influence cell proliferation in the oesophageal epithelium. Rats were treated with gastrin, omeprazole or saline for 3 days, or were subjected to fundectomy or sham operation. Bromodeoxyuridine labelling (LI) and mitotic (MI) indices were counted in the proliferative, zone of the squamous epithelium. Infusion of exogenous gastrin, treatment with omeprazole or fundectomy raised the LI and the MI values in the oesophageal epithelium, indicating that gastrin stimulates cell proliferation in the oesophageal mucosa in the rat.