Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1998. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 15, 1998; 4(1): 48-51
Published online Feb 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i1.48
Expression of somatostatin mRNA in various differentiated types of gastric carcinoma
Qin-Xian Zhang, Ying-Li Dou, Xue-Yi Shi, Yi Ding
Qin-Xian Zhang, Ying-Li Dou, Xue-Yi Shi, Yi Ding, Department of Histology and Embryology, Henan Medical University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Qin-Xian Zhang, M. D. , B. S. male, was born on May 27, 1953 and graduated from Henan Medical University, Professor, having 33 papers and 4 books published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Prof. Qin-Xian Zhang, Department of Histology and Embryology, Henan Medical University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Telephone: +86-371-6977002
Received: June 10, 1997
Revised: July 16, 1997
Accepted: August 23, 1997
Published online: February 15, 1998
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of somatostatin mRNA in various differentiated types of gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: By using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques, the expression of somatostatin mRNA and somatostatin immunoreactivity in the normal gastric mucosa, the poorly, moderately and well-differentiated gastric carcinomas, and various clinical stages of carcinoma were observed.

RESULTS: In comparison with the normal gastric mucosa, the significantly increased expression of somatostatin mRNA positive cells was displayed in gastric carcinoma ( t = 2.681, P < 0.01). The positive signal cells were distributed in a scattered form or aggregated as a mass or a cord, and the positive cells were more significantly enhanced in poorly differentiated carcinomas than those in well and moderately differentiated carcinomas (t = 2.962, P < 0.01). The somatostatin mRNA hybridization signals in stages III and IV of gastric carcinoma were significantly higher than those in stages I and II. The results of somatostatin immunoreactivity were consistent with those of in situhybridization.

CONCLUSION: The alteration of the expression of somatostatin mRNA was associated with the deve-lopment of gastric carcinoma and may play an important role in the process of tumor differentiation.

Keywords: stomach neoplasms; somatostatin; RNA, messenger; in situ hybridization; immunohistochemistry