The Role of Mucosal Prostaglandin Levels in Healing of Water Immersion-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

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Abstract
This study was designed to clarify the recovery time course of water immersion stress ulcers. Rats were divided into two groups: the control group and the cetraxate group. In the cetraxate gorup, 6 h after water immersion stress, cetraxate (300 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically twice a day until the end of the experiment. Ulcer indices were observed immediately 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after water immersion stress in each group. Changes in gastric ucosal prostaglandin (PG) levels were measured by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. In the control group ulcer healing was not observed within 1 day after stress. Gastric lesions had decreased significantly after 3 days, but 21 days were required for total healing. Accelerated ulcer healing was observed in the cetraxate group. Four kinds of PGs were detected in gastric mucosa: 6-keto-PGF1.alpha., PGF2.alpha., PGE2, and PGD2. Recovery of PG levels differed from each other. Fourteen days were required for full recovery of PGD2 and 6-keto-PGF1.alpha.. In contrast, 7 days were required for recovery of PGF2.alpha. and PGE2. Cetraxate accelerated the recovery of gastric mucosal PGD2 and 6-keto-PGF1.alpha. levels, especially the former. These results suggest that PGs, especially PGD2, are linked with the healing processes of stress ulcers.