Oxyntic lesions may be provoked in the rat both by the process of acid secretion and also by gastric acidity.
BACKGROUND
Gastric ischaemia appears to be a common pathogenetic factor for stress ulcers. These ulcers occur predominantly in the oxyntic mucosa, suggesting that the acid secretory process or its stimulation is involved in the pathogenesis.


METHODS
We examined separately the role of the acid secretory process and gastric luminal acidity in the pathogenesis of gastric lesions using the isolated vascularly perfused acid-secreting rat stomach.


RESULTS
Pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion induced submucosal bleeding in the oxyntic mucosa whether accompanied by perfusion of the gastric lumen with saline or a phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. On the other hand, acidity, whether endogenous or introduced by luminal perfusion, induced erosions in both the oxyntic and antral mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the acid secretory process itself contributes to the particular vulnerability of the oxyntic mucosa to ischaemia. Histamine released upon stimulation of gastric acid secretion or shortage of energy due to the requirements for acid secretion may both contribute to this vulnerability. Furthermore, these findings suggest that inhibition of gastric acid secretion should be superior to antacids in preventing stress ulcers.
Waldum
H L
HL
Sections of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. helge.waldum@medisin.ntnu.no
Mårvik
R
R
Grønbech
J E
JE
Sandvik
A K
AK
Aase
S
S
D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000473:pathology*; D010418:Pentagastrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010477:Perfusion; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D006632:Histamine; D010418:Pentagastrin; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine