After examining 88 gastropathic patients with Spleen deficiency syndrome by using transmission electron microscope

X-ray energy disperse analysis system

histochemical staining and radioimmuno methods

the authors found that the gastric mucosa cyclic adenosine monophosphate

superoxide dismutase level

quantity of mitochondria and its crista

the ratio of diameter between ventricle and cavity of mitochondria and the content of zinc (Zn)

copper (Cu) of mitochondria were decreasing to certain extent which tends to get lower and lower with different groups in the order of health control group; Spleen Qi deficiency group and Spleen deficiency with Qi stagnation group; chronic superficial gastritis group

chronic atrophic gastritis group and gastric cancer group; complete small intestinal metaplasia (IM) group

incomplete small IM group

complete colonic IM group and incomplete colonic IM group (P<0.05~0.001). While the degeneration rate of mitochondria

Cu/Zn ratio

metaplasia rate of gastric mucosa

rate of incomplete colonic IM and content of lipid peroxide were increasing in the above order (P<0.05~0.001). It is suggested that the comprehensive effect of the degeneration of mitochondria and the quantitative changes of its correlative factors is the physiopathologic base for inducing Spleen deficiency disease

gastric mucosa IM and canceration.