Ageing and endocrine cells of human duodenum

Motility and secretory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and associated glands increase with ageing. The duodenum contains several peptide/amine producing cells that play an important role in regulating gastrointestinal motility and secretion. The present study was performed to elucidate changes in these cells that may have arisen as a result of ageing. A total of four age groups of subjects, aged 1–2, 20–29, 40–49 and 60–69 years were studied. The various endocrine cell types were identified by immunohistochemistry and quantified by computerized image analysis, and two parameters were determined; the number of cells/mm 3 epithelial cells and the cell secretory index (CSI), which indicates the immunoreactive secretory granule content of the endocrine cells. Chromogranin A- and serotonin-immunoreactive (IR) cells were fewer in 1–2-year-olds than in 20–29-year-olds. Gastrin/CCK-IR cells were significantly more numerous in 1–2-year-olds and 60–69 years-olds than in 20–29-year-olds. Somatostatin-IR cells were more numerous in the 40–49-year-olds than in the 20–29 years-olds. The CSI was higher in chromogranin A-, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)-, somatostatin- and gastrin/CCK-IR cells in 1–2-year-olds than in 20–29-year-olds. There was no significant sex difference regarding the numbers and CSI of other endocrine cell types. This study established the absence of sex-related differences in all endocrine cell types investigated, regarding numbers and physiological activity. Age, on the other hand, was shown to be associated with changes in the numbers of CCK-, somatostatin- and serotonin-IR, which may have some bearing on the gastrointestinal disorders of the elderly.