Pathogenesis of gastric mucosal damage induced by intraperitoneal administration of gold thioglucose in rats

Rats injected intraperitoneally with gold thioglucose (GTG,0.3mg/g) revealed hemorrhagic lesions in the gastric mucosa 24h after the injection. However, no morphological changes were found in the central nervous system after the injection. The volume of gastric secretion and acid output increased significantly 24h after the injection (P less than 0.01), and gastric emptying was markedly inhibited 24h post administration (P less than 0.01). There were no changes in either blood flow or hexosamine contents in the gastric mucosa. These results indicated that gastric hemorrhagic lesion was associated with increases in gastric secretion and acid output. No significant changes were found in gastrin contents in either plasma or the gastric mucosa. A subdiaphragmatic vagotomy prior to the GTG injection prevented bleeding in the gastric mucosa and lowered the gastric secretion and acid output. This indicated that the mechanism of action of GTG in producing the gastric lesion might be mediated by the vagus nerve.