Abstract
The same lesions in the rat stomach and colon were observed in order to compare the image of the electronic endoscope with that of the fiberoptic endoscope. After the endoscopic observation, the stomach and the colon were removed from the experimental animal, and stereo-microscopic observation and histological examination were performed to know the resolution of these two kinds of endoscopes. In the lesion-free gastric mucosa, the minute structure of the mucosal surface were observed with electronic endoscope, but not observed with f iberoptic endoscope. In water-immersion and restraint stress ulcer, immediately after the stress, the cobblestone-like mucosal redness could be seen with electronic endoscope. On the contrary, diffuse mucosal redness was seen with fiberoptic endoscope. In the observation of the hemorrhagic erosions following the mucosal redness, the inf ormations obtained using two systems did not show any difference. In acetic acid ulcer, the mucosal redness around the active ulcer was clearly observed with electronic endoscope and hardly observed with fiberoptic endoscope. In the observation of the regenerating mucosa around the healing ulcer, the images of two systems did not show any difference. In lesion-free colonic mucosa, the vessels in the mucosa and submucosa were clearly observed with both of those endoscopes, but the minute surface structure of the colonic mucosa could be observed only with electronic endoscope. In experimental colitis, irregularity of the vessels, interrption of the vessels and minute mucosal hemorrhage could be seen vividly with electronic endoscope, but not seen with f iberoptic endoscope. In this study, the image of electronic endoscope was superior to that of f iberoptic endoscope not only in the resolution of the minute structural changes but also in the resolution of color. And electronic endoscopy would be quite useful for observing the experimental gastrointes-tinal lesions which shows minute superficial mucosal change.
