Beneficial effect of indomethacin on acid-induced esophagitis in cats

Acid-induced esophageal injury in the cat, produced by infusion of 0.1 N HCl (1 ml/min for 30 min) on 4 consecutive days, has been shown previously to adversely affect lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. We studied the role of prostaglandins in acid-induced esophagitis and the associated LES hypotension by simultaneous treatment of some animals with indomethacin (150 micrograms/kg intravenous), a specific inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, either during production of esophagitis or during recovery. LES pressures and esophageal histology were compared to control groups which received acid alone. Indomethacin treatment resulted in more rapid healing of the esophageal inflammation and prevented or promptly corrected the esophagitis-associated LES hypotension. These studies provide further evidence that prostaglandins play an important role in the pathogenesis of acid-induced esophagitis and LES hypotension and raise the possibility that indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, may be of benefit in prevention or therapy of esophagitis.