title: Prostaglandin-stimulated recovery of the human duodenal epithelium: effects of misoprostol on ethanol damage.
abstract: This study was designed to determine whether prostaglandins can stimulate the repair of human duodenal epithelium. Ten healthy volunteers were given 50 ml 40% ethanol through an endoscope onto the duodenal mucosa 1-7 cm from the pyloric sphincter; 3 min later, misoprostol (200 micrograms) or inert vehicle (5 ml) was given locally in the same way. One and 5 h later, endoscopy was repeated to evaluate the damage. The conditions of the mucosa were evaluated by endoscopy and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy in biopsies taken at time 0 and 3 min, 1 and 5 h after ethanol. The study was double-blind with a cross-over balanced design. Three minutes after ethanol administration, the duodenal mucosa showed hyperemia with hemorrhagic lesions. Under the electron microscope, the lesions were caused by vascular engorgement or red blood cell extravasation into the submucosa; the epithelium underlining lesions showed loss of superficial cells and damage to the upper layer of the mucosa. One hour after ethanol, there was a striking difference between the two treatment groups, with a substantial recovery of the duodenal epithelium in the misoprostol-treated volunteers. Although spontaneous recovery was evident in the control group, there was also a significant difference at 5 h. Our results suggest that prostaglandins are able to stimulate the recovery of the duodenal epithelium after acute damage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marazzi
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Radaelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaiani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trabucchi
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004384:Duodenoscopy; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016595:Misoprostol; D009336:Necrosis; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D000431:Ethanol; D000527:Alprostadil