Sucralfate prevents bile acid—induced retardation of gastric epithelial repair in a rabbit cultured cell model

Abstract

Various kinds of antiulcer agents have been reported to affect gastric epithelial cell restoration. The effects of sucralfate on restoration after cell damage by bile acid were assessed using primary cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells. Sucralfate was added to a complete confluent cultured cell sheet with or without deoxycholic acid after a 2-mm 2 wound was made. The process of restoration was monitored for 48 hours, and the change of wound size was assessed. The speed of cell migration was measured during the initial 3 hours using a time-lapse video system, and cell proliferation was detected by sequential staining for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) every 12 hours. The labeling index was calculated per unit area. Restoration was completed 48 hours after wounding in controls, whereas bile acid retarded this process. Sucralfate abolished the bile acid—induced retardation. During restoration, the mean migration speed was 26.1 μm/h in the control group and 15.2 μm/h in the deoxycholic acid group. It returned to the control group level with sucralfate treatment. BrdU-positive cells, rarely detected in the initial 24 hours, reached maximum levels at 36 hours (labeling index, 1.7%) in controls, whereas cell proliferation was inhibited (0.4% at 48 hours) in the deoxycholic acid group. Sucralfate prevented the suppressive effect of bile acid on proliferation. We concluded that bile acid significantly retarded restoration by inhibiting both cell migration and proliferation. Sucralfate prevented bile acid—induced retardation of gastric epithelial restoration.