A Model of Precancerous Lesions of Gastric Cancer in the Rat

Precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) represent a critical stage in gastric carcinogenesis. Animal models are widely used to simulate human pathologies in the laboratory, and the establishment of PLGC animal models is essential for investigating therapeutic strategies for precancerous gastric lesions. This study describes a method for establishing a PLGC model in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using a multifactorial induction approach. Rats were administered 200 µg/mL N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine at a fixed time each day (freshly prepared and protected from light), with fasting on alternate days (1 day feeding/1 day fasting, with free access to water). On fasting days, 2% sodium salicylate was administered by gastric gavage (10 mL/kg/day). At week 32, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of the gastric mucosa in the model group revealed thinning of the gastric mucosa and a reduced number of glands. Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining indicated the presence of intestinal metaplasia. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated increased expression of MUC2. These findings confirmed the successful establishment of the PLGC model. This model provides a valuable tool for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer.