title: Experimental model of gastroesophageal reflux in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an experimental model of gastroesophageal reflux in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty Wistar rats underwent surgery and were assigned to one of the three groups of twenty animals each. The animals in group A underwent total esophageal myectomy and, in group (B), underwent partial myectomy. The third group was the control group (C). A contrast radiographic study of the esophagus was performed to evaluate gastroesophageal reflux. The anatomopathological study of the esophagus was used to evaluate esophagitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 30-day postoperative follow-up, 14 animals in group A presented with reflux of barium in the esophagus. The presence of barium in the esophagus was observed in 7 animals in group B and in 2 animals in the control group. The result of the histopathology examination was controversial. A marked weight loss in the rats undergoing total myectomy was observed, however there was no significant statistical difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total myectomy in the lower third of the esophagus caused gastroesophageal reflux in the majority of the animals.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Ciências Médicas de Alagoas, UNCISAL, Brazil. edmilsongaia@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Edmilson Vieira
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Gaia Filho
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: Henrique Oliveira
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D010784:Photomicrography; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015431:Weight Loss