In vitro action of gastric mucosal lysosomal enzymes on intracellular gastric glycoproteins

The results show that incubation of gastric mucosal cells from rat at pH approximately 4.5 or in the presence of aspirin is associated with a specific increase in the activity of some acid-hydrolases. Intracellular glycoproteins, isolated by non-degrative techniques from rat or dog fundic mucosal cells, were found to be potential bio-substrates for these acid-hydrolyses. This may suggest that cleavage of the carbohydrate moieties of the intracellular and mucosal cell wall glycoproteins is a fundamental step in the development of gastric ulceration. A model for gastric lesions is proposed and discussed in the light of the results obtained.