The increase in the aging population has led to a growing interest in achieving a better understanding of the aging process and of diseases that are predominantly expressed during advancing age. Since the structural and, in turn, the functional integrity of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) are maintained by constant renewal of cells, a detailed knowledge of the events that initiate and regulate mucosal proliferative processes is essential for a better understanding of the normal aging process as well as age-associated dysfunctions, including malignancy that represent disorders of tissue growth. In Fischer-344 rats, aging is associated with increased mucosal proliferative activity in much of the GI tract. On the other hand, the functional properties are either decreased or remain unchanged during advancing age. Basal gastric acid and pepsin output decline during aging, as is gastrin secretion. In contrast, antral gastrin levels increase during this period, as is mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity. The age-related decline in gastrin secretion could partly be attributed to a higher ratio of somatostatin (D) to gastrin (G) cells in the antral mucosa. The age-related rise in GI mucosal proliferative activity could not be attributed to the trophic action of either gastrin or bombesin, since they caused no significant change in mucosal proliferation in aged rats. On the other hand, EGF and TGF-alphalpha appear to be involved in regulating mucosal proliferation during aging. Aging is associated with increased activation of EGF-receptor (EGFR), the common receptor for EGF and TGF-alpha. This could be due to (a) increased levels of membrane-bound precursor form(s) of TGF-alpha resulting in increased activation EGFR signaling processes through an autocrine/paracrine mechanism, (b) heightened sensitivity of mucosal EGFR to EGF and TGF-alpha such that comparatively lower levels of these peptides are required to activate EGFR in aged than in young animals and/or (c) loss of EGFR regulatory factor(s) such as ERRP (EGFR Related Protein), a "negative regulator" of EGFR.
The effects of gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and bombesin on the DNA synthesis, as a biochemical indicator of trophic action in the gastroduodenal mucosa and the pancreas, have been examined in rats fasted for 48 h and in rats refed for 16 h with or without administration of specific receptor antagonists for bombesin, gastrin and CCK. Bombesin and gastrin administered three times daily for 48 h in fasted rats significantly increased the rate of DNA synthesis as measured by the incorporation of [³H] thymidine into DNA in each tissue tested. CCK significantly increased DNA synthesis in the duodenal mucosa and pancreatic tissue, but not in the gastric mucosa. The stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by bombesin in the gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreas was abolished by bombesin/GRP receptor antagonist, RC-3095. RC-3095 did not affect DNA synthesis stimulated by gastrin and CCK in these tissues. L-365,260, a receptor antagonist for gastrin suppressed the DNA synthesis induced by gastrin but not by CCK or bombesin in the gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas. L-364,718, a specific antagonist for CCK receptors was effective only against CCK stimulated duodenal mucosa and pancreatic growth. Refeeding of 48 h fasting rats strongly enhanced the DNA synthesis in all tissues tested, and this effect was significantly reduced in the gastroduodenal mucosa by blocking only gastrin receptors (with L-365, 260) and that in the duodenal mucosa and the pancreas by antagonizing of CCK receptors (with L-364, 718). Antagonism of bombesin receptors (with RC-3095) did not significantly affect the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by refeeding in all tissues tested. This study indicates that the stimulation of DNA synthesis can be achieved by exogenous gastrin, CCK and bombesin acting through separate receptors, but that only gastrin and CCK play the major role in the postprandial stimulation of the growth of gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreatic tissue.
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The effects of gastrin, cholecystojdnin (CCK) and bombesin on the DNA synthesis, as a biochemical indicator of trophic action in the gastroduodenal mucosa and the pancreas have been examined in rats fasted for 48 h and in rats refed for 16 h with or without administration of specific receptor antagonists for bombesin, gastrin and CCK. Bombesin and gastrin administered three times daily for 48 h in fasted rats significantly increased the rate of DNA synthesis as measured by the incorporation of [³H] thymidine into DNA in each tissue tested. CCK significantly increased DNA synthesis in the duodenal mucosa and pancreatic tissue, but not in the gastric mucosa. The stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by bombesin in the gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreas was abolished by bombesin/GRP receptor antagonist, RC-3095. RC-3095 did not affect DNA synthesis stimulated by gastrin and CCK in these tissues. L-365,260, a receptor antagonist for gastrin suppressed the DNA synthesis induced by gastrin but not by CCK or bombesin in the gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas. L-364, 718 a specific antagonist for CCK receptors was effective only against CCK stimulated duodenal mucosa and pancreatic growth. Refeeding of 48 h fasting rats strongly enhanced the DNA synthesis in all tissues tested, and this effect was significantly reduced in the gastroduodenal mucosa by blocking only gastrin receptors (with L-365, 260) and that in the duodenal mucosa and the pancreas by antagonizing of CCK receptors (with L-364, 718). Antagonism of bombesin receptors (with RC-3095) did not significantly affect the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced by refeeding in all tissues tested. This study indicates that the stimulation of DNA synthesis can be achieved by exogenous gastrin, CCK and bombesin acting through separate receptor but that only gastrin and CCK play the major role in the postprandial stimulation of the growth of gastroduodenal mucosa and pancreatic tissue.