Effect of acetazolamide on gastric mucosa in canine vivo-vitro preparations

Abstract

Segments of canine gastric fundus with intact blood supply were studied in acute experiments using the chamber preparation of Altamirano et al. Solutions of varying acidity were placed in the chamber in contact with the mucosal surface, and the effect of intravenous acetazolamide observed and compared with controls. Acetazolamide resulted in gross and microscopic damage to the surface mucosa in both secreting and non-secreting preparations, provided the mucosal bathing solution had an acidity of 30 mEq/liter or greater. The apparent inhibition of acid secretion after acetazolamide was greater when mucosal bathing solutions of 160 mEq/liter of HC1 were used than with solutions of lesser acidity. This relationship appears to result from the acceleration of H+ loss from the luminal fluid through the surface mucosa following acetazolamide. These effects of acetazolamide are not dependent on the presence of acid secretion per se, and occur in preparations in which acid secretion was not detected as well as in those actively secreting acid in response to histamine administration.[long dash]Authors.