1985 Volume 27 Issue 10 Pages 1961-1969
We endoscopically studied the pathological changes in the rat gastric mucosa induced by a single administration of aspirin via a gastric fistula made in the rat forestomach. Through this fistula, gastric mucosal lesions were observed continually using human gastrointestinal fiberscopes, such as OLYMPUS GIF-P3, Q, and HM. Mucosal blood flow was measured by the hydrogen gas clearance method and laser-dopple flowmetry through the biopsy channel of the endoscopes. Five hours after the aspirin administration, a few hemorrhagic erosions accompanied with redness of the mucosa were observed endoscopically. Mucosal lesions were most severe from 8 to 11 hours after the administration. Multiple hemorrhagic erosions with severe redness and edema of the mucosa were observed during this period. Magnifying endoscopic observation showed congestion of the collecting venules and venule meshes at 5, 8 and 11 hours after the administration. Gastric mucosal blood flow measured by each method was decreased most markedly at 5 and 8 hours, but recovered gradually to normal level from 11 to 54 hours after the administration. Venous congestion observed with magnifying endoscopy and the decrease of gastric mucosal blood flow demonstrated that aspirin impaired microcirculation in the gastric mucosa. This suggests that microcirculatory disturbances play a role in the development of gastric mucosal lesions induced by aspirin.
