Abstract
The role of gastric mucous glycoprotein (GP) in cytoprotection by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and an anti-ulcer drug, sofalcone, which increases the endogenous prostaglandins (PGs), was investigated in rats with ethanol-induced gastric lesions. Oral administration of absolute ethanol in rats caused a marked increase in low-molecular weight luminal GP and a marked decrease in macromolecular weight GP in the gastric tissue. These changes were significantly prevented by pretreatment with PGE2 or sofalcone. The adhesive intensity of mucous GP to the surface epithelium was estimated by comparing the amount of GP relased into the medium in an in vitro incubation system. Our observations indicate that the adhesion of mucous GP is markedly decreased by oral administration of absolute ethanol, and this decrease is prevented by pretreatment with PGE2 or sofalcone. The adhesion of the secreted mucous GP to the gastric epithelium is probably one of important factors in prostaglandin cytoprotection.
