Aspirin-Induced Damage to the Gastric Mucosa

Abstract

The gastric bleeding diathesis related to ingestion of salicylate compounds has long been recognized. Although the pathogenesis of this common adverse drug reaction is poorly understood, hypotheses have been advanced suggesting the direct irritation of the mucosa by salicylate, impaired mucus protection of the gut surface, back diffusion of hydrogen ions, and adverse systemic effects of salicylate on the mucosal metabolism. The present study was undertaken to characterize the early cytologic responses, the relative sensitivities of different mucosal cell types, and the mucosal surface damage related to bleeding after oral ingestion of aspirin.Acetylsalicylic acid (10 mg/kg) in an acidic solution (0.1 N HCl) was administered by gastric intubation to normal adult female ferrets, and animals were sacrificed at 10-45 min after ingestion. Control ferrets received 0.9% NaCl, 0.1 N HC1, or a solution containing both aspirin and sodium bicarbonate buffer (10 mEq/kg). Tissue samples taken from both the antrum and fundus of the stomach, were prepared in a conventional manner and studied with a Jeolco Jem-7 Transmission Electron Microscope.