Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of ethanol and nicotine damage to rat gastric mucosa after treatment with misoprostol and omeprazole

Abstract

We compared the protective effects of misoprostol, a prostaglandin El derivative with both acid-inhibitory and cytoprotective actions, to omeprazole which possesses potent acid-inhibitory activity only on the injury to rat gastric mucosa induced by ethanol alone, and ethanol combined with nicotine, which was given to rats 25 μg/ml tap H2O for ten days before experiment. Assessment of macroscopic and microscopic mucosal damage were made in rats treated with ethanol and nicotine alone, or in combination with varied doses of Misoprostol, and Omeprazole topically The ulcer index was measured by the total area of macroscopic hemorrhagic necrosis in the glandular stomach. Microscopic examination of the tissue taken from the non-necrotic lesion areas of each rat stomach was carried out in order to determine the extent and depth of mucosal damage. The depth of mucosal damage was classified as O-damage; I-damage, II-damage and III-damage based on standardized criteria. In rats challenged with ethanol alone, the ulcer index, the total area of damaged gastric mucosa, and III damage in the non-necrotic lesion area of stomach were significantly lower in rats treated with all doses of misoprostol and high doses of Omeprazole vs low doses of Omeprazole and control (p Conclusion Misoprostol protects ethanol and nicotine induced mucosal injury better than omeprazole and control This indicates that cytoprotective action rather than acid-inhibition is more important in offering mucosal protection.