Effect of Aging on the Quantitative Number of Brunner's Glands.

Background: Age related changes in the number of Brunner's Glands (BG) in four anatomical parts of human duodenum were studied. The few studies done on this topic were conducted mainly in men. Studies involving a much larger age group, from foetuses to elderly individuals up to 85years of age including both sexes were not done earlier and were evaluated.

Aim: To find out whether the number of (BG) differs with increasing age in the four anatomical parts of duodenum.

Materials And Methods: This study was carried out on the basis of 74 specimens taken from still-born foetuses. The patients were divided into four groups as <1-25 years, 26-50 years, 51-75 years and 76-85 years. Duodenal biopsies without gastrointestinal disorders were included in the study group. Sections were prepared and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. Ten microscopic fields of vision (FOV) were examined under high power on every representative slide from each duodenal portion and average was calculated. The (BGs) were analyzed quantitatively. The final result was expressed as the number of glands per high power field. The average number of (BG) in field of vision per high power field for each of the age groups was tabulated for subsequent statistical study. The documented data was calculated by the SPSS, version 16.0 software.

Result: The decrease in (BG) is significant (p-value < 0.001) in the superior (first) and ascending (fourth) part of duodenum in all the age groups.

Conclusion: It suggests that the number of glands can differ according to variations in age in duodenum.