POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL-INDUCED MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES IN THE GASTRIC-MUCOSA OF THE RHESUS-MONKEY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 373-383
Abstract
The early morphologic events in polychlorinated biphenyl[environmental contaminant]-induced lesions of the gastric mucosa of immature male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were studied in serial biopsies taken during consumption of diets containing 3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg (ppm) of Aroclor 1242. The severity of the lesions correlated directly with duration and level of exposure. The 1st changes were seen after ingestion of 30 and 100 mg/kg for 2 wk; changes were not seen until 10 wk at 3 and 10 mg/kg. The principal effect was an apparent arrest of the differentiation of generative cells of the isthmus and neck regions into parietal and zymogenic (chief) cells. Mature parietal and zymogenic cells were found only in the bases of the glands, where the oldest cells are normally found, and these showed signs of injury including dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in zymogenic cells, irregularity of the mitochondria in parietal cells and irregular luminal membranes, and an increase in the number of large autophagic vesicles in both cell types.