BACKGROUND: Several recent reports have suggested a connection between the GABA-ergic system and neoplastic processes. It has been confirmed that both GABA content and GAD activity, are increased in neoplastic tissues in colon and breast cancer. In the light of the theory of dynamic balance between stimulating and inhibitory amino acids, disturbances in GABA metabolism may be an expression of the cell's defensive response to the neoplastic process. The aim of the present study was to evaluate GABA content and GAD activity in the tissue from gastric cancer and in the macroscopically unchanged wall of the stomach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: GABA content and GAD activity were evaluated in tissue material obtained from 34 patients operated for gastric cancer. GABA and GAD levels were determined in neoplastic tissue and surrounding unchanged tissue by spectrofluorometric method. RESULTS: The investigations revealed that the GABA content and GAD activity were significantly higher in the neoplastic tissue in comparison to the unchanged tissue of the stomach. CONCLUSION: The results obtained, together with reports from the literature, suggest the possibility of introducing GABA-ergic system agonists into adjuvant therapy in gastric cancer.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vagotomy effect on the content and synthesis of acetylcholine in autonomic ganglia in dog stomach.

The effect of total, selective and highly selective vagotomy was studied on the content and synthesis of acetylcholine in the tissues of the gastric fundus and pyloric part of the stomach in mongrel dogs of either sex aged 3 to 6 years. Total vagotomy produced after 3 weeks a non-significant rise in the amount and a highly significant increase of the synthesis of ACh in the fundus, and a significant increase in the amount and synthesis of ACh in the pyloric part. Six weeks after the procedure the Ch content of the fundus and pyloric part decreased statistically significantly, while the synthesis rate was not different from the initial one. Three weeks after selective vagotomy the ACh content of the fundus and pyloric part was significantly increased. The rate of ACh synthesis was normal. Six weeks after vagotomy the content of ACh and its synthesis in the fundus were similar to those before vagotomy. In the same time the ACh synthesis rate was significantly decreased in the pyloric part, while the ACh content there was similar to the control value. Highly selective vagotomy with denervation of the fundus and corpus of the stomach but with maintenance of the innervation of the pyloric part caused after 3 weeks a rise of the ACh content of the fundus tissues. The ACh synthesis rate was not different from the normal one. In the pyloric part the ACh content was significantly decreased and the synthesis of ACh was somewhat inhibited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗