Prostaglandin cytoprotection: role of microcirculatory changes.
Both the fluorescent in vivo microscopic study and the hydrogen-gas-clearance study revealed complete absence of blood flow in the areas of gross ethanol damage. PG pretreatment prevented this cessation of flow. However, the hydrogen-gas-clearance study demonstrated that PG administered in a cytoprotective dose did not increase blood flow. It maintained blood flow by some other mechanism. The final in vivo microscopic studies demonstrated a marked leak of albumin from microvessels and slowing and then cessation of flow very shortly after topical ethanol application. This suggests that an increase in blood viscosity due to plasma leak may be the mechanism of the ethanol-induced flow stasis. PG prevented this leak. PG cytoprotection, by preventing this permeability change, maintains mucosal blood flow and may thus protect the mucosa against the deeper and more severe ethanol injury.
D015064:16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011459:Prostaglandins E, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects
D011459:Prostaglandins E, Synthetic; D015064:16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2