Protective Action of Tetraprenylacetone against Ethanol-Induced Damage in Rat Gastric Mucosa

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological and physiological effects of tetraprenylacetone (TPA) on ethanol(ET)-induced injury in rat gastric mucosa. Fasted rats received orally the following agents; a) vehicle (VH); b) 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg of TPA; c) indomethacin (IDM, 5 mg/kg), 30 min prior to TPA (200 mg/kg). Thirty minutes later, 1 ml of absolute ET was administered into the rat stomach. The gastric mucosa was assessed at 60 min after administration of ET. The ulcer index was significantly decreased by TPA in a dose-related fashion when compared with controls. Histological studies also showed significant reduction of ET-induced mucosal damage by TPA. A scanning electron microscopic study revealed that, when TPA was administered, surface epithelial cells of fundic mucosa were protected against ET-induced injury. The decrease of potential difference induced by ET was diminished by TPA (p < 0.01). Addition of IDM significantly reduced the effect of TPA. This indicates that TPA has a protective effect on rat gastric mucosa against ET-induced injury. The data also suggested that endogenous prostaglandins may be partially involved in this effect of TPA.