AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDIES ON THE CELL PROLIFERATION OF THE HUMAN GASTRIC MUCOSA IN SUPRAVITAL CONDITION

Cell proliferation kinetics of human gastric mucosa was studied on the 56 cases of various diseases using supravital method of 3 H‐TdR autoradiography. Normal‐appearing portions and adjacent area to the lesion were subjected to calculation of labeling and mitotic indices and to analysis of proliferating patterns of the mucosa l epithelium. The average indices, both labeling and mitotic, were generally higher in the antrum than in others. Higher incorporation of 3 H‐† was observed in the mucosa adjacent to the ulcer than that of the cancer, in agreement with increased mitotic activity. Lower uptake in the cancer group might be caused by either prolongation or deterioration of DNA synthesis. Proliferation compartment was sometimes displaced from the usual site of glandular neck, depending on the process of the disease. The upward type, labeling of surface epithelium, which was frequently found in ulcer cases indicated active regenerating processes. The downward type in which incorporation was scattered in the deeper glandular tubule was seen in a few cancer patients, and this pattern might represent an early sign to neoplastic development. High labeling of goblet cells in intestinalization suggested a particular cytodifferention of those structures. ACTA PATH. JAP. 18: 307–318, 1968.