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Biomedical subjects

M G Bryant

Publications and source records attributed to M G Bryant.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Coeliac sprue: abnormalities of the hormone profile of gastroduodenal mucosa.

To further characterize coeliac sprue, the hormonal content of routine endoscopic biopsies of gastroduodenal mucosa was estimated in 5 coeliac sprue patients and in 8 volunteers without upper gastrointestinal disease. Levels of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity tended to be lower in duodenal mucosa of coeliac sprue patients, while the mucosal map of GIP and somatostatin exhibited no peculiar profile. Gastrin was markedly elevated in the antral mucosa of coeliac sprue patients (3013 +/- 760 versus 1048 +/- 392 pmol/g), while basal plasma gastrin was normal. The mucosal VIP content of the descending duodenum was significantly higher in coeliacs than in controls (409 +/- 161 versus 81 +/- 16 pmol/g) and tended to be increased also in the remaining upper small intestine. This rise may be a reaction to mucosal irritation and a reason for enhanced fluid secretion. Even in antral mucosa of coeliac sprue patients, VIP levels were elevated when compared to controls (82 +/- 14 versus 40 +/- 8 pmol/g) and may have some impact, e.g. on local mucosal blood flow or mucus secretion. The mucosal concentration of another putative neurotransmitter, substance P, also showed a tendency to be raised in the mucosa of upper small intestine of coeliac sprue patients.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1986

Jejunal mucosal enzyme activities, regulatory peptides and organelle pathology of the enteropathy of common variable immunodeficiency.

Jejunal biopsies from six patients having the small bowel enteropathy associated with common variable immunodeficiency have been subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation and enzymic and regulatory peptide microassay to define the organelle pathology of this syndrome. Compared with normal subjects, the immunodeficient patients had decreased activities of the three brush border enzymes: alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and alpha-glucosidase. The other organelle marker enzyme activities and all the regulatory peptide concentrations did not differ from the controls. Density gradient experiments showed a complete loss of particulate beta-glucosidase (lactase) with activity entirely located in the cytosol. The integrity of other organelles was normal. These data indicate that the enteropathy of common variable immunodeficiency is associated with abnormalities in the jejunal brush border analogous to those present in tropical malabsorption syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Gastroduodenal mucosal hormone content in duodenal ulcer disease.

To further elucidate the pathophysiological role of peptide hormones in duodenal ulcer (DU) disease, several endocrine, paracrine and neurocrine peptides were determined radioimmunologically in biopsies of gastroduodenal mucosa obtained endoscopically in 8 subjects without upper gastrointestinal disease, and in 8 duodenal ulcer patients. The DU patients had a BAO of 6.6 +/- 1.9 and a PAO of 41.8 +/- 6.1 mEq/h. In DU patients, a lack of the acid and gastrin-release inhibiting agent somatostatin was found neither in antral nor in fundic mucosa (185 +/- 60 vs 83 +/- 19 pmol/g tissue wet weight in controls). Basal and peak acid outputs of DU patients were positively correlated with fundic somatostatin concentrations (p less than 0.01). While gastrin levels were not significantly elevated in the antrum of DU patients, the mucosal content of potentially releasable gastrin of the duodenal bulb and the descending duodenum was higher than in controls (p less than 0.01). In the whole duodenum, CCK-like immunoreactivity was also more abundant in DU patients than in controls, whereas GIP and motilin did not exhibit characteristic profiles. Presumably as a reactive phenomenon, the mucosal levels of the peptidergic neurotransmitters VIP and substance P were markedly increased in the proximal duodenum of DU patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Gastrointestinal regulatory peptide storage granule abnormalities in jejunal mucosal diseases.

The mucosal concentrations of seven regulatory peptides and the density properties and integrity of their storage granules have been studied in mucosal biopsies from the human jejunum in eight gastrointestinal disease states and compared with normal controls. In diseases with associated mucosal inflammation (coeliac disease, Crohn's disease with jejunal involvement, postinfective tropical malabsorption, and common variable immunodeficiency) there was a selective increase in fragility of the gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and somatostatin storage granules. The gastrin, motilin, enteroglucagon, secretin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide granules had normal properties in these conditions. In diseases in which diarrhoea occurred in the absence of changes in jejunal mucosal histology (irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatic insufficiency, jejuno-ileal bypass for morbid obesity, and purgative abuse) there were no abnormalities of the storage granules. Increased mucosal concentrations of all peptides except vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were found in coeliac disease and selective increases of VIP found in Crohn's disease, motilin in the irritable bowel syndrome and gastrin and GIP in pancreatic insufficiency. It is suggested that the storage granule abnormalities in the diseases with abnormal mucosal histology are secondary to the inflammatory changes.

Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide↗
PubMed1983

Measurement of gut hormonal peptides in biopsies from human stomach and proximal small intestine.

Using sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays, concentrations of hormonal peptides have been measured in small biopsies taken from the human stomach, duodenum, and proximal jejunum. Comparison is made of these hormone concentrations and the number of respective endocrine cells present determined by quantitative immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactive somatostatin, VIP, motilin, and gastrin were detected in all regions examined, whereas secretin and GIP were undetectable in antral extracts. Enteroglucagon-like immunoreactivity was present only at and beyond the ligament of Treitz, although a few enteroglucagon-producing cells were shown by immunocytochemistry in the duodenum. The variation of hormone concentration was found to be small in these biopsies of normal tissue within each region of the gut examined, indicating that representative hormone concentrations may be reliably obtained from small biopsy tissues. An attempt has been made to establish reference values for gut hormone concentrations in such biopsies; this may allow future study of any changes in concentration that may occur in pathological conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Molecular forms of glucagon-like immunoreactivity in porcine intestine and pancreas.

Glucagon-related polypeptides in porcine pancreas and intestine were analysed by gel-permeation chromatography and RIA. Three assays were employed: a nonspecific glucagon assay (R59) of 94% cross-reactivity with glicentin; a pancreatic glucagon assay (RCS5) directed against the C-terminal region of glucagon and of less than 0.01% cross-reactivity with glicentin; and a glicentin assay (R64) of less than 0.01% cross-reactivity with glucagon. For extracts of porcine pancreas all three assays gave similar molar concentrations of immunoreactivity. In porcine intestinal extracts immunoreactivity was detected in significant amounts only by the nonspecific glucagon (R59) and the glicentin (R64) assays, again in similar molar concentrations. The immunoreactivities present in pancreas and intestine were chromatographically and immunologically separable into six main peaks, peaks I, II, III, V, and VI being present in the pancreas, and peaks I, II, and IV in the intestine. The different immunoreactivities of the peaks allowed probable identities to be assigned to their main components. Apart from peak I, which consists of void-volume material that may interfere nonspecifically with the assays, the main components of the peaks can be interpreted as glicentin (in peak II) or fragments derived from glicentin. Peak III contains the N-terminal portion of glicentin (glicentin-related pancreatic peptide), peak IV probably contains glucagon with its 8 amino-acid C-terminal extension, peak V is pancreatic glucagon and peak VI contains smaller N-terminal glicentin fragments. These findings fit with the proposition that glicentin fulfills the role of proglucagon in the pancreas, and is the major component of enteroglucagon in the intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Molecular forms of human enteroglucagon in tissue and plasma: plasma responses to nutrient stimuli in health and in disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

A means of estimating human enteroglucagon (glucagon-like immunoreactivity of intestinal origin) in tissues and plasma is described, based on the subtraction of RIA values obtained with the C-terminal-directed glucagon antiserum RCS5 from the total glucagon-like immunoreactivity determined with the N-terminal- to midmolecule-directed glucagon antiserum R59. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 of human plasma and extracts of normal human intestine separated the R59 immunoreactivity into three peaks: a small peak of void volume material, a major peak coeluting with porcine glicentin, and a smaller peak coeluting with pancreatic glucagon. No RCS5 immunoreactivity was detected in the human gut, except for a small amount constituting less than 2% of the total glucagon-like immunoreactivity in the ileum and rectum only. In extracts of human pancreas, the chromatographic profiles obtained with RCS5 and R59 assays differed from the intestinal patterns, but were identical to each other, giving no evidence of a significant amount of pancreatic R59 immunoreactivity that was not also reactive with RCS5. Chromatography of plasmas from healthy subjects and patients with dumping syndrome, active coeliac disease, and tropical sprue showed that only the second major peak of R59 immunoreactivity reflected the basal or postnutrient increases in the plasma enteroglucagon concentration. In patients with exaggerated enteroglucagon release, the rise was again found to be entirely due to an increase in this peak of immunoreactivity. This major molecular form of human enteroglucagon, similar in size to porcine glicentin, is, thus, the form most likely to be of physiological and pathophysiological significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Gastric acid regulates the release of plasma secretin in man.

Fasting plasma secretin determined in nine healthy subjects, twelve patients with active duodenal ulcer and four with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome were 3.2 +/- 0.4, 5.1 +/- 1.2 and 20.3 +/- 1.3 pmol/l respectively (mean +/- SEM). Cimetidine significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced levels in those with duodenal ulcer, as did gastric aspiration in the Zollinger-Ellison group. A significant correlation (P less than 0.001) was found between basal acid output and mean fasting plasma secretin. After a solid meal and subsequent liquid soft drink, no sustained mean rise in plasma secretin was observed; changes in secretin appeared to coincide in time with rapid falls in duodenal pH, though little relationship could be established between the absolute level of pH and changes in plasma secretin. The mean peak post-prandial rise in plasma secretin observed after solids was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in duodenal ulcer patients than controls (9.1 +/- 1.1 versus 6.7 +/- 0.5 pmol/l) as was the mean integrated post-prandial release (1002 +/- 110 versus 710 +/- 67 pmol min-1 1(-1)). Cimetidine reduced both rises (P less than 0.05) and was associated with significantly less duodenal pH readings below 4 (P less than 0.001). These results suggest that gastric acid is a major release mechanism for plasma secretin both fasting and after meals but it is likely the acid load rather than absolute pH in the duodenum which determines circulating levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Development of intestinal regulatory peptides in the human fetus.

The time of first appearance and subsequent development of eight regulatory peptides in the small and large intestine of human fetuses has been investigated. Gastrin, secretin, motilin, gastric inhibitory peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, enteroglucagon, and somatostatin were first detected as early as 8 wk of age, while neurotensin was only demonstrated at 12 wk. Adult patterns of distribution were established by 20 wk of age. Of the peptides examined only vasoactive intestinal peptide was localized to nerve fibers and these were seen clearly in the myenteric plexus at the 12-wk fetal stage and in the later fetuses in both the enteric plexuses. The concentrations of regulatory peptides increased steadily until term when they were close to adult levels. Secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide showed only a single molecular size species by gel permeation chromatography but the other peptides showed multiple peaks, the ratios tending to change through the gestational period in favor of the smaller molecular sized moieties. Thus the regulatory peptide system of the gut is present in th early fetus and its role in the process of maturation requires investigation.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed1981

Clinicopathological study of pancreatic and ganglioneuroblastoma tumours secreting vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (vipomas).

During a six-year period (1973-9) 52 patients with pancreatic tumours and 10 with ganglioneuroblastomas were found to have raised plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) concentrations. All the patients had severe secretory diarrhoea, weight loss, dehydration, hypokalaemic acidosis, and a raised plasma urea concentration. Reduced gastric acid secretion was seen in 72% of patients. Plasma VIP concentrations were not raised in patients with diarrhoea due to other types of tumour or disease or in hormone-secreting tumours not associated with diarrhoea. Plasma VIP measurement may therefore give clinical guidance in a patient with persistent watery diarrhoea and hypokalaemic acidosis. Surgical excision was clearly the treatment of choice, but metastatic pancreatic tumours usually responded to streptozotocin.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Release of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the dumping syndrome.

To determine the effect of gastric surgery on the plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentration, 13 patients with gastrectomy and seven controls were given an oral hypertonic load (200 ml 50% glucose solution). Blood was taken at intervals during the test for measurement of VIP and blood glucose concentrations and packed cell volume. At the same time observations were made on the occurrence of dumping symptoms and a record kept of the pulse rate. VIP values in the patients with gastrectomy were significantly increased by glucose ingestion, while these did not alter in controls (p less than 0.001). There was a highly significant correlation between the rate of rise in plasma VIP concentration and the rates of rise in packed cell volume (r = 0.85; p less than 0.001) and blood glucose concentration (r = 0.76; p less than 0.01) in patients with gastrectomy. Changes in packed cell volume and blood glucose values and the occurrence of dumping symptoms during the test were significantly different when postoperative patients were compared with controls (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.005, and p less than 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, when the patients with gastrectomy were divided into those without symptoms and those with dumping after meals the latter group showed a significantly greater rise of VIP (p less than 0.05). Despite the increased plasma VIP concentrations observed during dumping, VIP cannot be taken as the sole factor in the pathogenesis of the dumping syndrome.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity in anuran intestine.

Immunocytochemical and radioimmunological techniques with region specific antisera have been used to identify a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like material in the anuran intestine. Seven species of Anura were investigated: Bombina bombina, Alytes obstetricans, Rana temporaria, Rana esculenta, Hyla arborea, Hyla crepitans and Bufo bufo. In five of the species (A. obstetricans, R. temporaria, H. arborea, H. crepitans and B. bufo) vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive mucosal endocrine cells and nerve fibres in all layers of the gut wall, were detected by both immunofluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase methods. In the other two species, R. esculenta and B. bombina, no mucosal endocrine cells were detected although the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres were plentiful. Radioimmunoassay showed the presence of significant amounts of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactivity in intestinal extracts from all species. The highest quantities were present in those anurans with both immunostained cells and nerves. Gel permeation chromatography showed that most of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like peptide eluted in a position identical to that of natural mammalian (porcine) vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The results indicate that a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like peptide is well represented in the Anura and that it is immunologically very similar to the mammalian peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Abnormalities of the colonic regulatory peptides in Hirschsprung's disease.

We describe here a depletion of peptide containing nerves and cells in Hirschsprung's disease, in comparison with specimens of bowel taken from age-matched neonates with no evidence of chronic constipation. VIP content in the diseased specimens was reduced by almost 80%, from 110/+-10.6 (mean +/- SEM) pmol VIP/g wet weight of tissue in controls to 23.8 +/- 3.5 pmol/g in the mid-portion of the diseased specimens. In addition, the numbers of enteroglucagon and somatostatin cells in the mucosa were significantly reduced in the aganglionic portions. Enteroglucagon cells were reduced from 55 +/- 7 in controls to 27 +/- 2 in proximal portions rising to 44 +/- 3 and 49 +/- 4 cells/mm2 in middle and distal areas. Somatostatin cell numbers also fell, from 5.5 +/- 1.9 to 1.8 +/- 0.8, 2.5 +/- 0.7 and 3.8 +/- 0.9 cells/mm2 in similar areas. Further investigation of the abnormalities of the diffuse neuroendocrine system in Hirschsprung's disease may help in understanding the nature of this condition and provide additional information on the role of these peptides in the control of gut function.

Bombesin↗
PubMed1981

Mixed pancreatic apudoma with symptoms of excess vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and insulin: improvement of diarrhoea with metoclopramide.

A female patient is described with a single pancreatic tumour producing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), insulin, and pancreatic polypeptide. The initial presentation was with diarrhoea and hypokalaemia and a raised plasma VIP was demonstrated. Her symptoms improved with metoclopramide administration and absolute concentrations of 28 aminoacid (peak IV) VIP were found to have fallen. She then developed hypoglycaemia with hyperinsulinism. All symptoms resolved after surgical excision. This case emphasises the potential of these tumours to contain more than one endocrine cell type synthesising different biologically active peptides.

Apudoma↗
PubMed1981

Decrease of pancreatic somatostatin in neonatal nesidioblastosis.

The inappropriate insulin release that is characteristic of severe neonatal hypoglycemia and nesidioblastosis was thought to be principally due to a marked proliferation of B-cells. A possible deficiency of somatostatin, one of the factors controlling insulin release, has only recently been considered. We report have a significant decrease of pancreatic somatostatin cells and somatostatin content in nesidioblastosis, as compared with appropriate controls. Pancreatic tissue from five babies with severe hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and nesidioblastosis was examined for insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon by immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. There was a variable insulin cell hyperplasia among the nesidioblastotic specimens but no significant difference from controls was detected. In contrast, there was a consistent and highly significant (P less than 0.02) decrease (of more than 50%) of somatostatin cells (controls, 1.29 +/- 0.22%; nesidioblastosis, 0.53 +/- 0.14%, mean +/- SEM). Similarly, there was no significant alteration in insulin content, although a slight increase was found in non-microadenomatous areas of the diseased pancreata (controls, 42.3 +/- 4.1; nesidioblastosis, 58.6 +/- 9.4 nmol/g wet weight of tissue, mean +/- SEM). However, somatostatin content was almost 60% below control values (controls, 0.365 +/- 0.038; nesidioblastosis, 0.16 +/- 0.039 nmol/g), a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.01). Thus, a marked reduction in the content of somatostatin was present in the pancreata of these infants with nesidioblastosis, resulting in a distinct alteration of the normal pancreatic hormone balance.

Fluorescent Antibody Technique↗
PubMed1980

Enkephalin-, VIP- and substance P-like immunoreactivity in the carotid body.

The carotid body type I cell contains amines and has features, both morphological and cytochemical, which indicate that it may also produce a peptide. Many regulatory peptides are now known to be present in both central and peripheral tissues. In the periphery these neuropeptides occur in both classical endocrine (APUD) cells and the neurones of the autonomic nervous system. We have now investigated the possible presence of neuropeptides in the cat carotid body using both immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. Met- and Leu-enkephalin-like material occurred in considerable quantities in carotid body extracts and enkephalin-like immunoreactivity was localised in type I cells. Both vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and substance P-like immunoreactivity was also present but was localised in nerve fibres distributed throughout the organ. These active neuropeptides are widely distributed in mammalian tissues, forming a diffuse regulatory system which now seems to include the carotid body.

Animals↗