THE EFFECT ON THE JEJUNAL MUCOSA OF TRANSPLANTATION TO THE LESSER CURVATURE OF THE STOMACH

Abstract

Transplantation of the jejunum in healthy dogs to the region of the lesser curvature of the stomach was successful in 25 instances, and a definite ulcer developed in 3 instances. These were typical peptic ulcers. Careful examination of the transplants in which ulcer developed, either by observing the blood return from the veins draining the transplant or by injecting dye into the artery going to the transplant, demonstrated that blood supply to the site of ulceration was intact. Transplants in which ulcers occurred were all located at the desired site on the lesser curvature near the pylorus and formed a definite and contiguous part of the gastric wall with no pouching. The ulcers were situated directly in the line of the lesser curvature. In most experiments in which the jejunal mucosa remained normal the transplant not only had not been located definitely over the line of the lesser curvature but it had also become pouched. In spite of the small percentage of instances in which an ulcer developed in a transplant on the lesser curvature, it would appear to be significant in view of the complete failure of ulcer to develop in transplants in other regions of the stomach. Results of the experiments add more suggestive data on the hypothesis that mechanical stress is an important factor in determining the site of formation of peptic ulcer.