Pathological Features of Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastritis in Mongolian Gerbils.

Abstract

Seven-week-old male specific pathogen-free Mongolian gerbils (MGS/Sea) were orally inoculated with 2 × 108 colony-forming units per animal of a broth culture of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) ATCC 43504. Histopathological examination of their stomachs after 6 weeks of post inoculation revealed gastritis with hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, superficial erosion, mucosal thickening, and lymph follicles, in the pyloric mucosa and the fundic mucosa near the transitional zone. In addition, loss of fundic glands and appearance of hyperplastic epithelium with pseudopyloric glands containing paradoxical concanavalin A reactive mucins were evident in the fundic mucosa near the transitional zone. H. pylori bacteria were detected in the surface mucous gel layer lining inflamed mucosa or in the foveolar pits of the same regions. Galactose oxidase-cold thionine Schiff reactive mucins in the surface mucous cells were decreased. BrdU-labeled mucosal epithelial cells were markedly increased, and the generative cell zone was expanded. These features resemble human gastritis associated with H. pylori.