Endogenous prostaglandins are physiological regulators of endocrine cells in the gastroduodenal mucosa of the rat

Background/ Aim: To investigate whether endogenous prostaglandins participate in the regulation of the gastrointestinal endocrine cell system. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 1 mg/kg indomethacin subcutaneously or indomethacin subcutaneously and 500 μg/kg oral prostaglandin E 2 or solvents for 2 months. Endocrine cells were visualized by using immunohistochemistry and by the Sevier-Munger silver stain on specimens from the gastroduodenal mucosa, and their total volume was estimated, using standard stereological methods. Plasma and gastrointestinal tissue concentrations of regulatory peptides were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Results: Fundic mucosa. The total volume of cells stained with the Sevier-Munger silver stain (enterochromaffin-like) was increased by indomethacin, but reduced by the administration of prostaglandin E 2 ( P