EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON DEVELOPMENT OF GASTRIC MUCOSAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING ACUTE HYPOXEMIA IN RATS

Abstract

In order to elucidate pathogenic mechanism of acute gastric mucosal damage, the auther made a new experimental model in which the arterial blood oxygen partial pressure in rats could be reduced to any desired levels and demonstrated that hypoxemia could induce erosions and petechiae in the gastric body with a high incidence. This experiment suggests the possibility that the deficit of oxygen supply to the gastric mucosa may be the chief factor of development of acute gastric mucosal damage. Scanning electron microscopic observation showed swollen cells in areas between gastric pits and, in addition, disruption of apical cell membrane in the same areas. This finding suggests that the initial ultrastructual change of mucosal damage on exposure to hypoxemia may be swelling of cells. Transmission eeltcron microscopic observation also revealed that signs of intracellular disturbance preceded disruption of apical cell membrane.