AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 249, Issue 1 137-G144, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Nonprotein sulfhydryl compounds in canine gastric mucosa: effects of PGE2 and ethanol
T. A. Miller, D. Li, Y. J. Kuo, K. L. Schmidt and L. L. Shanbour
By use of an in vivo canine chambered stomach preparation in which the
gastric mucosa was partitioned into two equal halves, the effect of topical
16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (DMPGE2) (1 microgram/ml of perfusate) and 8% and 40%
ethanol on tissue levels of nonprotein sulfhydryl compounds was assessed.
Both DMPGE2 and 8% ethanol significantly increased (P less than 0.005)
mucosal levels of nonprotein sulfhydryls when compared with corresponding
mucosa bathed with saline alone. In contrast, mucosa bathed with 40%
ethanol showed significantly decreased levels. If mucosa was bathed with
DMPGE2 or 8% ethanol prior to exposing the stomach to 40% ethanol, this
depletion in sulfhydryl compounds was not observed. Since other
experimental observations have shown that exogenously administered
prostaglandins and mild irritants (such as low-dose alcohol) can prevent
gastric mucosal damage by necrotizing agents (such as high-dose alcohol),
our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that nonprotein sulfhydryls
may play a role in mediating gastric mucosal protection.
