Increased mucosal lysosomal enzyme activity in sepsis-associated gastric lesions

The role of lysosomal enzymes in the pathology of gastric mucosal damage has been demonstrated for stress-, aspirin-, and bile-induced acute gastric erosions. In a septic canine model we measured gastric mucosal beta-N acetylhexosaminidase activity during the evolution of septic-induced acute gastric erosions. In the first septic day bleeding acute gastric erosions developed in the fundus while in the antrum minimal petechiae appeared. During this period beta-N acetylhexosaminidase activity significantly increased in fundic mucosa that was grossly normal but significantly decreased in grossly normal antral mucosa. These experiments thus demonstrate that during the evolution of septic gastric mucosal damage the earliest abnormality is significant increase in mucosal lysosomal enzyme activity.