Effects of a novel histamine H2-receptor antagonist, lafutidine, on the mucus barrier of human gastric mucosa.
OBJECTIVE
Lafutidine is a novel histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist used primarily as an antisecretory agent in Japan. Previous human studies have not assessed its gastroprotective effects. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of lafutidine on the human gastric mucus layer using both histological and biochemical methods.


METHODS
Of the 14 patients scheduled for gastrectomy who consented to participate, seven were given 14 days of lafutidine 20 mg/day (lafutidine group) and the others received no medication (control group). The surface mucus gel layer in Carnoy-fixed tissue sections was examined immunohistochemically. Both the thickness of the mucus layer and its mucin content were measured in gastric corpus mucosa.


RESULTS
There was no detectable difference between the groups in the grade of gastritis or the immunohistochemical staining characteristics. The laminated structure of the surface mucus gel layer was retained after administration of lafutidine and it was thicker than the layer in the control group. The surface layer in the lafutidine group had three-fold more mucin than that in the control group. There was no difference between the two groups in the mucin content of the deep mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Lafutidine, given at clinical dosages, not only inhibits acid secretion but also strengthens the mucus barrier of the human gastric mucosa.
Ichikawa
Takafumi
T
Department of Biochemistry, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan. t.ichika@kitasato-u.ac.jp
Ota
Hiroyoshi
H
Sugiyama
Atsushi
A
Maruta
Fukuto
F
Ikezawa
Tomoaki
T
Hotta
Kyoko
K
Ishihara
Kazuhiko
K
D000081:Acetamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000081:Acetamides; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011725:Pyridines; C076948:lafutidine