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Effect of chronic misoprostol ingestion on rat gastric morphology and cell turnover
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract:
The effect of long-term misoprostol - a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue - ingestion on rat gastric morphology and cell turnover was studied. Misoprostol in a daily dose of 90 micrograms/kg or 9,000 micrograms/kg was intragastrically administered to rats. Control rats were treated with the vehicle only. Following 90 days of treatment, 3H thymidine was injected i.v. and rats were sacrificed 1 h later. Tissue sections were prepared from the stomach body and subjected to autoradiography. Misoprostol treatment significantly reduced body weight gain. High dose misoprostol treatment induced significant increases in gastric wall thickness and in gastric gland length. On the other hand, the labelling index was significantly reduced by treatment with high dose misoprostol. These results indicate that chronic administration of misoprostol in high doses increases gastric wall thickness and decreases gastric cell turnover, suggesting that administration of prostanoids causes an increase in cell survival and a decrease in cell shedding.
Insights
Long-term high-dose misoprostol (synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue) treatment in rats increased gastric wall thickness and decreased gastric cell turnover. This suggests prostanoids may enhance cell survival and reduce shedding.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue.
- Prostaglandins play roles in gastric mucosal protection.
- Understanding misoprostol's long-term effects on gastric tissue is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of misoprostol on rat gastric morphology.
- To assess the impact of misoprostol on gastric cell turnover.
Main Methods:
- Rats received daily intragastric administration of misoprostol (90 or 9,000 µg/kg) or vehicle for 90 days.
- 3H thymidine incorporation and autoradiography were used to measure cell turnover.
- Gastric tissue sections were analyzed for morphological changes.
Main Results:
- Misoprostol treatment significantly reduced body weight gain in rats.
- High-dose misoprostol significantly increased gastric wall thickness and gastric gland length.
- High-dose misoprostol significantly reduced the gastric labeling index, indicating decreased cell turnover.
Conclusions:
- Chronic high-dose misoprostol administration alters gastric morphology.
- Misoprostol appears to decrease gastric cell turnover, potentially by increasing cell survival and reducing shedding.