Gastric cytoprotection by ornoprostil, a PGE1 analogue, in human subjects

Ornoprostil, a methyl derivative of PGE1 developed in Japan, was tested for its effect on gastric mucosal damage caused by ethanol in human subjects. Sixteen healthy volunteers were given either ornoprostil or a placebo, followed by 20 ml of 70% ethanol instilled into the gastric antral mucosa. Fifteen minutes later, visible mucosal lesions were evaluated endoscopically. The biopsy specimens were obtained from mucosa that had been exposed to ethanol but looked normal. The specimens were assessed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The gross mucosal damage demonstrated endoscopically was significantly less (p less than 0.05) in the subjects receiving ornoprostil than those receiving placebo. Hyperemia and hemorrhage in the mucosa were also significantly less (p less than 0.05) in the subjects given ornoprostil pretreatment. Ornoprostil, however, failed to prevent the disruption of surface epithelial cells as assessed by scanning electron microscopy. These data suggest that ornoprostil protects gastric mucosa against damage caused by concentrated ethanol.