HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Crean, G. P. Articles by Rumsey, R. D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Crean, G. P. Articles by Rumsey, R. D. E.

1. The growth of the gastric mucosa during pregnancy and afterwards has been studied by comparing the stomachs of rats, killed at weekly intervals after impregnation, with the stomachs of virgin rats of the same age and starting weight. The rate of growth of the gastric mucosa in both groups was determined from the changes observed in the weight of the whole stomach, the weight and surface area of the fundus, the volume (mass) of the fundic mucosa and the total parietal and total peptic cell populations.

2. Hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa occurred during pregnancy and lactation, the effect being characterized by increases in the surface area and volume (mass) of the gastric mucosa, and in the total parietal and total peptic cell populations.

3. The data suggest that the effect developed shortly after conception. Hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa continued throughout pregnancy and reached maximal values after the second week of lactation and waned thereafter; the maximal changes obtained for individual observations such as surface area and the total parietal and total peptic cell populations represented increases of the order of 40% above corresponding control values.

4. From the observations that were made on food intake it seemed unlikely that the hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa was due to hyperphagia. It also seemed unlikely that the effect could be accounted for by the increase that occurred in body weight during pregnancy.