Acceleration of recovery of gastric epithelial integrity by 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2

Abstract

1 The effects of pretreatment with 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E₂ (DmPGE₂) on the recovery of gastric mucosal ‘barrier’ parameters after ethanol-induced damage were studied using an ex vivo chamber preparation in the rat. 2 DmPGE₂ (4–40 μg kg⁻¹) significantly reduced the extent of haemorrhagic damage to the gastric mucosa induced by the topical application of 50% ethanol followed by 0.05 M hydrochloric acid. 3 The lowest dose of DmPGE₂ tested (4 μg kg⁻¹) had no effect on the ethanol-induced changes in transmucosal potential difference (PD) or K⁺ efflux. However, DmPGE₂ at doses at 20 or 40 μg kg⁻¹ significantly reduced the changes in these indices of epithelial integrity. 4 The recovery of PD and K⁺ efflux to control levels after ethanol-injury was accelerated by DmPGE₂. 5 With the two higher doses of DmPGE₂ (20 and 40 μg kg⁻¹) there was a significantly (P < 0.001) lower level of epithelial discontinuity, measured histologically, in samples taken at the end of the experiment. 6 These results suggest that at the higher doses, DmPGE₂ confers some protection to the gastric epithelium as well as accelerating the recovery of epithelial integrity after damage induced by ethanol.