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Biomedical subjects

P Persson

Publications and source records attributed to P Persson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Molecular analysis of two genes, DD9A and B, which are expressed during the postmolt stage in the decapod crustacean Penaeus japonicus.

In decapod crustaceans, deposition of calcium carbonate crystals (calcification) in the exoskeleton takes place during the postmolt phase of the molt cycle. In an attempt to identify proteins which regulate the calcification process, the differential display technique was used to identify genes which were specifically expressed in the integument during the postmolt stage in the penaeid prawn Penaeus japonicus. One of the genes thus identified, named DD9A, was expressed in the epithelial cells of the tail fan. DD9A encoded a putative precursor of a secreted protein of 113 amino acids which exhibited sequence similarities to a group of crustacean and insect cuticular proteins, suggesting that DD9A was a protein component of the exoskeleton. Another gene, DD9B, which was also transcribed specifically during the postmolt period was identified based on its sequence similarity to DD9A. Potential roles of the DD9A protein in the calcification of the exoskeleton will be discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Structure and Bonding of Cu(II)-Glutamate Complexes at the gamma-Al(2)O(3)-Water Interface.

Thecomposition and mode of attachment of Cu(II) complexes at the gamma-Al(2)O(3)-water interface in suspensions containing a simple amino acid (glutamate) were characterized with EXAFS and FTIR spectroscopies. The spectroscopic results indicate that two types of Cu(II)-glutamate-alumina interactions are primarily responsible for Cu(II) and glutamate uptake between pH 4 and 9. In acidic suspensions of alumina, glutamate forms a bridge between Cu(II) ions and the (hydr)oxide surface (Type B complex). In this Type B surface complex, Cu(II) is bonded to amino acid headgroups (i.e., (+)H(3)NCHRCOO(-)) of two glutamate molecules. Spectroscopic and ionic strength dependent uptake results are combined to propose that the nonbonded side chain carboxylate groups of this complex are attracted to the oxide surface through long-range forces, leading to enhanced Cu(II) uptake relative to the glutamate-free system. In alkaline suspensions the relative amount of surface-bound Cu(II) complexed by glutamate decreases, and a direct Cu(II)-surface bond becomes the dominant mode of attachment (Type A complex). These surface complexes differ markedly from the species found in the alumina-free Cu(II)-glutamate aqueous system under similar solution conditions, where Cu(H(2)O)(2+)(6) and Cu(glutamate)(2-)(2) are the dominant species in acidic and alkaline solutions, respectively. Based on these spectroscopic results, surface complexation reactions are proposed for the Cu(II) and glutamate ternary interactions with the alumina surface in this system. Similarities between the results of this study and Cu(II) uptake behavior and complexation in the presence of natural organic material (NOM) indicate that Cu(II)-glutamate interactions mimic those in more complex Cu(II)-NOM-mineral-water systems. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Crucial role of the interleukin 1 receptor family member T1/ST2 in T helper cell type 2-mediated lung mucosal immune responses.

T1/ST2 is an orphan receptor of unknown function that is expressed on the surface of murine T helper cell type 2 (Th2), but not Th1 effector cells. In vitro blockade of T1/ST2 signaling with an immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein suppresses both differentiation to and activation of Th2, but not Th1 effector populations. In a nascent Th2-dominated response, anti-T1/ST2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibited eosinophil infiltration, interleukin 5 secretion, and IgE production. To determine if these effects were mediated by a direct effect on Th2 cells, we next used a murine adoptive transfer model of Th1- and Th2-mediated lung mucosal immune responses. Administration of either T1/ST2 mAb or T1/ST2-Ig abrogated Th2 cytokine production in vivo and the induction of an eosinophilic inflammatory response, but failed to modify Th1-mediated inflammation. Taken together, our data demonstrate an important role of T1/ST2 in Th2-mediated inflammatory responses and suggest that T1/ST2 may prove to be a novel target for the selective suppression of Th2 immune responses.

Allergens↗
PubMed1999

Rat stomach ECL-cell histidine decarboxylase activity is suppressed by ergocalciferol but unaffected by parathyroid hormone and calcitonin.

The ECL cells are peptide hormone-producing cells, rich in histamine and chromogranin A (CGA)-derived peptides, that operate under the control of gastrin. Gastrin and the ECL cells form a functional unit, the gastrin-ECL-cell axis. The aims of the present study were to examine (1) if calcitonin (CT), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D affect the gastrin-ECL-cell axis (by measuring the activity of the histamine-forming enzyme, histidine decarboxylase (HDC), and the expression of HDC mRNA and CGA mRNA in the ECL cells), and (2) if activation of the gastrin-ECL-cell axis affects the parathyroid glands (by measuring plasma PTH and mRNA expression). We also examined the possibility that the oxyntic mucosa harbours vitamin D receptors. Fasted rats received intravenous infusion of PTH and CT with or without gastrin. PTH raised the blood Ca2+ concentration, whereas CT infusion lowered it. Plasma PTH rose in response to CT, while serum gastrin remained unaffected. ECL-cell HDC was activated by gastrin but not by CT and PTH. Five daily subcutaneous injections of large amounts of ergocalciferol raised the blood Ca2+ concentration, while reducing the oxyntic mucosal HDC activity and the expression of HDC and CGA mRNA. The serum gastrin concentration was not affected. The findings are in line with the idea that the gastrin-ECL-cell axis can be suppressed by vitamin D or by vitamin D-dependent mechanisms. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of vitamin D receptor immunoreactivity and reverse transcription PCR detected vitamin D receptor gene expression in the rat oxyntic mucosa. Hypergastrinemia was induced by daily peroral treatment with the H+/K+-ATPase inhibitor, omeprazole, for 2 weeks or by continuous subcutaneous infusion of gastrin for 7 days. Elevated serum gastrin concentration was associated with increased HDC activity and increased HDC and CGA mRNA expression in the oxyntic mucosa. There was no elevation of plasma PTH or PTH mRNA expression in the parathyroid gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of phenotypic and molecular typing techniques for determining diversity in Erwinia carotovora subspp. atroseptica.

A number of phenotypic and molecular fingerprinting techniques, including physiological profiling (Biolog), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) and a phage typing system, were evaluated for their ability to differentiate between 60 strains of Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica (Eca) from eight west European countries. These techniques were compared with other fingerprinting techniques, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Ouchterlony double diffusion (ODD), previously used to type this pathogen. Where possible, data were represented as dendrograms and groups/subgroups of strains identified. Simpson's index of diversity (Simpson's D) was used to compare groupings obtained with the different techniques which, with the exception of Biolog, gave values of 0.46 (RFLP), 0. 39 (ERIC), 0.83 (phage typing), 0.82 (RAPD) and 0.26 (ODD). Of the techniques tested, phage typing showed the highest level of diversity within Eca, and this technique will now form the basis of studies into the epidemiology of blackleg disease.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1999

Alpha1-microglobulin chromophores are located to three lysine residues semiburied in the lipocalin pocket and associated with a novel lipophilic compound.

Alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1m) is an electrophoretically heterogeneous plasma protein. It belongs to the lipocalin superfamily, a group of proteins with a three-dimensional (3D) structure that forms an internal hydrophobic ligand-binding pocket. Alpha1m carries a covalently linked unidentified chromophore that gives the protein a characteristic brown color and extremely heterogeneous optical properties. Twenty-one different colored tryptic peptides corresponding to residues 88-94, 118-121, and 122-134 of human alpha1m were purified. In these peptides, the side chains of Lys92, Lys118, and Lys130 carried size heterogeneous, covalently attached, unidentified chromophores with molecular masses between 122 and 282 atomic mass units (amu). In addition, a previously unknown uncolored lipophilic 282 amu compound was found strongly, but noncovalently associated with the colored peptides. Uncolored tryptic peptides containing the same Lys residues were also purified. These peptides did not carry any additional mass (i.e., chromophore) suggesting that only a fraction of the Lys92, Lys118, and Lys130 are modified. The results can explain the size, charge, and optical heterogeneity of alpha1m. A 3D model of alpha1m, based on the structure of rat epididymal retinoic acid-binding protein (ERABP), suggests that Lys92, Lys118, and Lys130 are semiburied near the entrance of the lipocalin pocket. This was supported by the fluorescence spectra of alpha1m under native and denatured conditions, which indicated that the chromophores are buried, or semiburied, in the interior of the protein. In human plasma, approximately 50% of alpha1m is complex bound to IgA. Only the free alpha1m carried colored groups, whereas alpha1m linked to IgA was uncolored.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of the Adsorption of o-Phthalate on Boehmite (gamma-AlOOH), Aged gamma-Al2O3, and Goethite (alpha-FeOOH).

This work is concerned with the adsorption of o-phthalate (1,2-benzenedicarboxylate) at the water-metal (hydr)oxide interface. Previously published infrared spectroscopic, potentiometric, and adsorption data characterizing the boehmite (gamma-AlOOH) system are compared with new data collected for o-phthalate adsorption on aged gamma-Al2O3 and goethite (alpha-FeOOH). The study focuses on identifying bonding mechanisms, stoichiometries, and stabilities of the formed complexes, and comparing these among the three systems. Furthermore, the effects of ionic strength and composition of the ionic medium are investigated. The infrared spectroscopic data provided direct, molecular-level evidence for the existence of two dominating surface complexes on all three solids. One was shown to be a deprotonated outer-sphere species and the other was an inner-sphere surface complex. The inner-sphere complexes on the three solids were structurally related, and they were tentatively assigned to a mononuclear, chelating structure involving both carboxylate groups. The outer-sphere complexes were shown to increase in relative importance at high pH and low ionic strengths, while low pH and high ionic strengths favored the inner-sphere complexes. The information gained from the infrared spectroscopic investigations was used as qualitative input in the formulation of the surface complexation models. New models, based on the extended constant capacitance approach, were presented for the o-phthalate/aged gamma-Al2O3 and o-phthalate/goethite systems. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Vibration Spectroscopy Study of Phenylphosphonate at the Water-Aluminum (Hydr)Oxide Interface

Two previously published surface complexation models of phenylphosphonate on aged gamma-Al2 O3 and boehmite (gamma-AlOOH), respectively, have been examined by means of FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The spectral features of adsorbed phenylphosphonate were studied as a function of pH and total phenylphosphonate concentration. No evidence for a phase transformation into a three-dimensional aluminum phenylphosphonate phase was found. This suggested that phenylphosphonate is sorbed as surface complexes under the conditions used in this study. Both the infrared and the Raman data showed that the surface-bound phenylphosphonate ions undergo protonation reactions as pH is varied. These results together with the fact that the ligand has only two donor atoms for complexation and protonation led to the conclusion that a monodentate coordination to the surface is most likely in both systems. Overall, the spectroscopic results were in good qualitative agreement with the thermodynamic surface complexation models.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Chicken parathyroid hormone gene expression in response to gastrin, omeprazole, ergocalciferol, and restricted food intake.

Treatment with omeprazole, a long-acting proton pump inhibitor of acid secretion, induces hypergastrinemia. In chickens, omeprazole induces growth not only of the acid-producing mucosa (probably reflecting the trophic action of gastrin), but also of the parathyroid glands (hypertrophy + hyperplasia), while suppressing bone density and body weight gain without affecting blood calcium. The first part of the present study was concerned with the effect of omeprazole, ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), and restricted food intake on the gene expression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the parathyroid glands of the chicken. Chickens were treated with omeprazole (400 micromol/kg/day, I.M.), food restriction, omeprazole + food restriction, ergocalciferol (250 000 IU/kg/day, S.C.), or ergocalciferol + omeprazole for 5 weeks. The weight gain of the chickens was monitored, and the weights of the parathyroid glands and femurs were determined at sacrifice. PTH mRNA in the parathyroid glands was analyzed by Northern blot. The second part of the study examined the effect of 3 weeks of continuous gastrin infusion (chicken gastrin 20-36, 5 nmol/kg/hour, S.C.) on the expression of PTH mRNA in the parathyroid glands. Omeprazole reduced the body weight and femur density (ash weight per volume) while greatly increasing the weight of the parathyroid glands and the PTH gene expression. Food restriction alone and ergocalciferol alone (at a dose that raised blood Ca2+) were without effect, but food restriction greatly enhanced the omeprazole-evoked increase in parathyroid gland weight and PTH gene expression. Gastrin increased the weight of the parathyroid glands and reproduced the effect of omeprazole on PTH gene expression. Hence, it seems likely that the effect of omeprazole reflects the ensuing hypergastrinemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Exercise and smoking habits among Swedish postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess exercise habits and their relation to smoking habits and social and medical factors in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a questionnaire to all 1324 55-56 year old women in Linköping, Sweden. RESULTS: Response rate was 85%. About a third of the women took part in some kind of quite strenuous exercise for at least one hour a week. After a quarter worked out once a week; fewer did swimming and jogging. One in four women smoked. Women who used hormone replacement therapy, who were not smoking and who had a physically light occupation more often took part in strenuous sports. Women who had been treated for malignancies or with back problems exercised to the same extent as women in the general population. CONCLUSION: About a third of the post-menopausal women exercised on a regular basis, if exercise involved in getting to and from work was not counted. Since regular physical exercise has many health benefits, more women should be encouraged to take part in regular physical exercise. Factors probably associated with level of education and general awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle positively influenced the likelihood of these women to be physically active on a regular basis. A previous malignant disease or current back problems did not prevent women from taking part in exercise on a regular basis.

Back↗
PubMed1997

Hearing results in otosclerosis surgery after partial stapedectomy, total stapedectomy and stapedotomy.

Hearing results in a consecutive series of 407 patients with otosclerosis undergoing primary stapes surgery were analysed (437 operated ears). Partial stapedectomy was performed in 70 ears (16%), total stapedectomy in 205 ears (47%), in both groups using the House steel wire prosthesis on fascia in the oval window. The remaining 162 ears (37%) underwent stapedotomy using the Fisch 0.4 mm teflon-platinum piston. No case of cochlear loss (> 15 dB) occurred in the total series. The comparison between the three groups one year postoperatively showed that the air-bone gap was smaller for partial and total stapedectomy for all frequencies except 4 kHz. The air-bone gap was calculated as the difference between the preoperative bone conduction and the postoperative air conduction thresholds. Partial and total stapedectomy also showed larger improvements of bone conduction thresholds compared with stapedotomy for all frequencies but 4 kHz. At the 3-year follow-up, the hearing gain for all frequencies (250-8000 Hz) was larger for partial and total stapedectomy. Yet, when comparing the decline of hearing from 1 to 3 year postoperatively, the hearing gain achieved with partial and total stapedectomy seemed to deteriorate at a higher rate, which was considered to be caused by impaired sensorineural function. Our results show that in the short-term perspective partial or total stapedectomy can still compete for better hearing results even at higher frequencies, but stapedotomy seems to yield more stable hearing results over time and should therefore be considered as the method of choice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Structure and Bonding of Orthophosphate Ions at the Iron Oxide-Aqueous Interface.

The surface speciation of orthophosphate ions on goethite has been studied as a function of pH, time, total phosphate concentration, and ionic medium by means of diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. The samples were prepared in accordance with a distribution diagram of surface species as calculated from thermodynamic data. In agreement with the thermodynamic model three dominating surface complexes could be distinguished with IR spectroscopy, and the relative distribution of the species was shown to be primarily a function of pH. The IR characteristics of the individual surface complexes were indicative of molecular symmetries of the PO(4) unit of C(3v), C(2v), and C(3v), respectively. This was concluded to be incompatible with the bidentate, bridging structural model previously suggested. Instead, the IR data are in good agreement with a monodentate coordination of phosphate to the surfaces, where the three surface complexes only differ in the degree of protonation. A comparison between the adsorption behavior of phosphate on goethite and hematite was also made. Here the importance of the aqueous stability of the adsorbent on the adsorption mechanism was shown.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Helodermin, helospectin, and PACAP stimulate cyclic AMP formation in intact bone, isolated osteoblasts, and osteoblastic cell lines.

Helodermin and helospectin are peptides structurally similar to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) which were recently isolated from the salivary gland venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been isolated from ovine hypothalamus and also shows sequence homology to VIP. A helodermin-like peptide has been detected by combined immunohistochemical and immunochemical techniques in the thyroid C-cells. In the present study, lizard helodermin was found to cause a time- and dose-dependent stimulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation in neonatal mouse calvarial bones. Also, helospectin I, PACAP 27, and the C-terminally extended PACAP 38 stimulated cAMP accumulation in the mouse calvariae. The cAMP rise in response to helodermin was comparable to that induced by VIP, both in terms of potency and magnitude of the response. Helodermin, helospectin I, PACAP 27, and PACAP 38, at concentrations of 1 mumol/liter, stimulated cAMP accumulation in enzymatically isolated mouse calvarial bone cells. A significant response to all peptides was observed in both early and late released bone cells isolated from the calvariae, with low and high alkaline phosphatase activity, respectively. Helodermin and VIP stimulated cAMP accumulation in the cloned mouse calvarial osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1, in rat (UMR 106-01), and human (Saos-2) osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell lines, but not in the rat osteosarcoma cell line ROS 17/2.8. The effect of helodermin was synergistically and dose-dependently enhanced by forskolin (0.1 and 1 mumol/liter). These data show that bone cells, including osteoblasts, respond to several peptides of the VIP family, including helodermin, helospectin I, PACAP 27, and PACAP 38.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Growth of the parathyroid glands in omeprazole-treated chickens.

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole, a long-acting inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, is able to increase the circulating concentrations of gastrin. Daily treatment with high doses of omeprazole cause sustained hypergastrinemia. Long-standing hypergastrinemia can be expected to exert numerous effects in the body. For instance, gastrin has been proposed to promote growth in the digestive tract and pancreas. The present study is concerned with the effect of omeprazole on parathyroid glands in the chicken. METHODS: Chickens were treated with omeprazole (400 mumol/kg/day) in methylcellulose (2.5 ml/kg) for 5 or 10 weeks. Controls received vehicle. Blood calcium and serum gastrin concentrations were studied. The weight gain of the animals and of various organs (proventriculus, antrum, thyroids, parathyroids, ultimobranchial glands, and femur) were determined. The DNA content and the size of the parathyroid chief cells were also determined. RESULTS: Omeprazole reduced the body weight gain while greatly increasing the weight of the proventriculus and the parathyroid glands. The weight and density of the femur were reduced. The circulating concentrations of calcium were unaffected. The DNA content of the parathyroid glands was increased, and morphometric analysis of the parathyroid chief cells showed an increased cell size. Thus, the increased parathyroid gland weight seems to reflect both hypertrophy and hyperplasia. There was a slight increase in the weight of the ultimobranchial glands (expressed per kilogram body weight). The weight of the thyroids was unaffected (expressed in relation to body weight). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that omeprazole treatment in chickens leads not only to trophic effects in the acid-producing gastric mucosa (probably because of the ensuing hypergastrinemia), as reported earlier, but also to growth of the parathyroid glands (both hypertrophy and hyperplasia) and to bone loss without affecting blood calcium values. The mechanism behind these effects remains unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The effect of high or low dietary calcium on bone and calcium homeostasis in young male rats.

Young male rats (100 g body weight) were fed diets containing varying amounts of calcium. Body weight and bone development were studied together with various endocrine parameters, including blood levels of Ca2+, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, and gastrin, and the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell-related parameters gastric mucosal histidine decarboxylase activity and histamine concentration. A diet containing 0.5% calcium resulted in optimum body weight gain and bone development. A lower calcium intake impaired body weight gain and bone development. The impairment was manifested in reduced bone calcium content whereas the size of the bones was unaffected. The net absorption of calcium seemed to be proportional to the calcium intake. A low calcium diet (0.03%) raised the circulating levels of 1,25(OH)2D and parathyroid hormone and lowered 25(OH)D3 and Ca2+, whereas a high calcium diet (5.46%) raised calcitonin, Ca2+, 25(OH)D3, and 1,25(OH)2D. In addition, the low calcium diet lowered the circulating gastrin concentration and the histidine decarboxylase activity and histamine content of the ECL cells in the gastric mucosa. A high calcium diet raised the circulating gastrin concentration, but the rise was not associated with an increase in the histidine decarboxylase activity and histamine content.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to toluene diisocyanate: measurement of toluenediamine in hydrolysed urine and plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) was studied during 48 hours and biological samples from nine subjects were taken in a factory producing flexible polyurethane (PUR) foam. Five PUR workers, two white collar workers, and two volunteers were studied. The concentrations of TDI in air were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with the 9-(N-methylaminomethyl)-anthracene reagent. Urine and plasma samples were collected and the TDI related amines, 2,4-toluenediamine (2,4-TDA) and 2,6-toluenediamine (2,6-TDA), were determined (after hydrolysis) as pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) derivatives by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM) in the negative chemical ionisation mode. The concentration of TDI in air was 1%-10% of the Swedish threshold limit value (TLV) of 40 micrograms/m3. The ratio between 2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI varied in the air samples in the range of 60%:40%-5%:95%. Calibration plots for human urine spiked with 2,6-TDA and 2,4-TDA in the range of 0.2-12 micrograms/l were produced on eight different occasions during five weeks. The SDS of the calibration plot slopes (n = 8) were less than 4%. Urine and blood samples were taken on six occasions for eight of the studied subjects and on four occasions for one subject during a two day period. The five male PUR workers showed the highest average urinary elimination rate of TDA. Two PUR workers and the two white collar workers had an elimination rate of 20-70 ng on average for the sum of 2,6-TDA and 2,4-TDA per hour and three PUR workers had an average of 100-300 ng TDA per hour. The elimination rate curves for all the studied subjects had a linear relation with exposure to TDI. The concentrations of 2,4-TDA and 2,6-TDA in plasma for the PUR factory employees were virtually stable. No relation between the elimination rates of TDA in urine and plasma concentrations of TDA was found. The five PUR workers showed plasma concentrations of the sum of 2,4-TDA and 2,6-TDA in the range 1-8 ng per ml. The two white collar workers, present only on occasions in the factory, had 0.2- ng TDA per ml plasma. The two volunteers showed an increasing concentration of TDA in plasma with time. At the end of the study their plasma concentrations were 0.6 ng/ml and 0.2 ng/ml plasma. Three subjects had the same concentration of the two TDA isomers in plasma, two subjects had about double, and two subjects had 12 times higher concentrations of 2,6-TDA than 2,4-TDA. The presented study indicates that it is possible to monitor exposure to TDI by monitoring plasma concentrations of TDA.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Gastrectomy causes bone loss in the rat: is lack of gastric acid responsible?

Total gastrectomy or resection of the acid-producing part of the stomach (fundectomy) in the rat induced a marked and rapid reduction in bone wet weight, ash weight, and density (expressed as ash weight in mg/mm3 bone). Bone volumes were also affected but not as much. The radius, sternum, tibia, and femur were studied. Three weeks after gastrectomy the bone ash weight was reduced by almost 30% and the density by more than 25%. Maximum bone loss (approximately 40%) occurred about 6 weeks after the operation. The bone loss after gastrectomy was somewhat greater than that after fundectomy, whereas antrectomy had a marginal effect only. The percentage trabecular bone volume, calculated from morphometric analysis of histologic sections of the tibia, was greatly reduced by gastrectomy (approximately 50%), somewhat less so by fundectomy, whereas antrectomy had little effect. We set out to study whether calcium malabsorption could explain the bone loss after gastrectomy. Gastric acid is thought to facilitate the intestinal absorption of ingested calcium by mobilizing calcium from insoluble complexes in the diet. The possibility that lack of acid might contribute to the bone loss after gastrectomy was examined in experiments in which the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole was given for 4-8 weeks at such a dose (400 mumol/kg/day) that acid secretion was blocked almost completely during the period of study. This treatment was without effect on bone. However, the possibility could not be excluded that gastrectomized rats develop calcium deficiency for some reason other than lack of acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗