The effects of prostaglandin E1 on the pepsin activities in gastric mucosa and juice

Prostaglandin E1 elevated pepsin activity in gastric mucosa but lowered pepsin activity in the gastric juice of rats treated by pylorus ligation and intragastric administration of hydrochloric acid. In these animals zymogen granules with low electron density were numerous in the gastric chief cells following prostaglandin E1 treatment. The prostaglandin E1-induced increase in mucosal pepsin activity was slightly inhibited by actinomycin D and there was no apparent increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation into gastric mucosa following treatment with prostaglandin E1. It is suggested that prostaglandin E1 causes an elevation of pepsin activity in the gastric mucosa by stimulating pepsin synthesis and perhaps also by facilitating pepsin release from zymogen granules. However, it also appears to inhibit pepsin release from the mucosa into the gastric cavity judging by the decrease of pepsin activity in gastric juice. The reduced pepsin activity in gastric juice may account, in part, for the reported anti-ulcerative action of prostaglandin.     

The effects in the excess administration of prostaglandin E1 on the indicator enzymes of organella membrane in gastric mucosa

Administration of excess vitamin A to rats causes gastric ulceration. In this study the effects on the gastric mucosa of excess vitamin A and excess prostaglandin E1, alone and in combination, were studied. Prostaglandin E1 protected against ulceration by vitamin A. Vitamin A labilized marker enzymes from four different membrane systems, namely those of the lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane, whereas only the effect on lysosomes was prevented by prostaglandin E1. Indeed, the prostaglandin alone labilized the enzymes from plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum and also damaged mitochondrial membranes. Both vitamin A and prostaglandin E1 caused a reduction in the total number and an increase in irregularly-shaped mitochondria in the parietal cells and produced dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum in both parietal and chief cells. It is noteworthy that prostaglandin E1 effectively prevents ulceration by vitamin A despite the extent to which it damages these membrane systems. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that vitamin A ulceration of the gastric mucosa is mediated via release of lysosomal enzymes, following damage to the lysosomal membranes.     

The effects in the excess administration of prostaglandin E1 on the indicator enzymes of organella membrane in gastric mucosa.

Administration of excess vitamin A to rats causes gastric ulceration. In this study the effects on the gastric mucosa of excess vitamin A and excess prostaglandin E1, alone and in combination, were studied. Prostaglandin E1 protected against ulceration by vitamin A. Vitamin A labilized marker enzymes from four different membrane systems, namely those of the lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane, whereas only the effect on lysosomes was prevented by prostaglandin E1. Indeed, the prostaglandin alone labilized the enzymes from plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum and also damaged mitochondrial membranes. Both vitamin A and prostaglandin E1 caused a reduction in the total number and an increase in irregularly-shaped mitochondria in the parietal cells and produced dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum in both parietal and chief cells. It is noteworthy that prostaglandin E1 effectively prevents ulceration by vitamin A despite the extent to which it damages these membrane systems. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that vitamin A ulceration of the gastric mucosa is mediated via release of lysosomal enzymes, following damage to the lysosomal membranes.     

Effect of chronic stress and L-carnitine on rat stomach

BACKGROUND AND AIM: L-Carnitine is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial transfer of fatty acids, and it is also a scavenger of free radicals in mammalian tissues. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of L-carnitine on chronic restraint stress-induced gastric mucosal injury. METHODS: Wistar rats were applied restraint stress (1 h/day) and L-carnitine (50 mg/kg) for 21 days. The lesion index, prostaglandin E(2) and mucus content, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity in gastric mucosa were evaluated. RESULTS: Chronic restraint stress increased the lesion index, lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase activity in gastric mucosa, and it decreased prostaglandin E(2) and mucus content. L-Carnitine treatment prevented the stress-induced increase in lesion index, lipid peroxidation and a stress-induced decline in prostaglandin E(2), and mucus content in gastric mucosa, but it increased catalase activity. CONCLUSIONS: L-Carnitine prevents the occurrence of lesion by strengthening the gastric mucosal barrier and by reducing lipid peroxidation against the harmful effects of chronic restraint stress.     

酪酸梭菌预防小鼠幽门结扎型胃溃疡的机制研究

目的:建立小鼠幽门结扎型胃溃疡(gastric ulcer,GU)模型,观测酪酸梭菌(C.butyricum)对GU的预防作用并探讨其机制。方法:将40只ICR小鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、奥美拉唑预防给药组和C.butyricum预防给药组。采用小鼠胃幽门结扎的方法建立GU模型,测量各组胃游离黏液量、胃液的p H、胃蛋白酶活性,并做常规HE染色观察胃组织的病理形态学变化,糖原(PAS)染色法观察胃组织糖原含量的变化,采用免疫组化检测胃黏膜组织中Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达水平。结果:HE及PAS染色结果表明,C.butyricum预防能够显著减轻胃粘膜的损伤,其效果与奥美拉唑相当。与模型组相比,C.butyricum组胃液的p H显著升高(P0.01);胃蛋白酶活性下降(P0.05),但其效果不如奥美拉唑组(P0.01);胃游离黏液量升高(P0.01),糖原染色加深,与奥美拉唑组相比明显增多;Bax蛋白表达量降低(P0.01)但Bcl-2蛋白表达水平显著上调(P0.01)。结论:C.butyricum对小鼠幽门结扎型GU具有较好的预防作用,其机制可能与抑制胃酸分泌、胃蛋白酶活化,尤其是增加胃游离黏液的产生以及诱导bcl-2、抑制bax基因表达有关。     

门脉高压时胃粘膜病变发生机制的实验研究

为探讨门脉高压时胃粘膜病变的发生机制，本文对四氯化碳所致的肝硬变伴门脉高压大鼠的胃粘膜主要防御和损伤因子进行了测定，并观察了胃粘膜超微结构。结果表明，门脉高压大鼠的胃粘膜前列腺素Ｆ２含量、胃粘膜血流量和胃壁结合粘膜量明显低于正常大鼠（均为Ｐ＜０．００１），而胃液ｐＨ值，胃酸浓度、胃酸分泌量和胃蛋白酶活性与正常比较无明显差异（均为Ｐ＞０．０５）。门脉高压大鼠的胃粘膜毛细血管组织结构的完整性破坏，毛细     

Oesophageal epithelial ultrastructure after incubation with gastrointestinal fluids and their components

Oesophageal biopsies from endoscopically normal patients were incubated in the following for up to 30 min-Ham's F10 medium:isotonic saline:0.1 N HCl:20, 2 and 0.2 mM bile acids:trypsin:pepsin:lipase; autologous gastric and duodenal juices. The biopsies were then examined by electron microscopy. No morphological change was produced by Ham's F10 or saline. HCl caused little damage. Gastric juice produced widespread severe damage, as did pepsin. Duodenal juice and the enzymes tested caused lysis and internalisation of desmosomes and peripheral cytoplasmic vacuolation. Bile acids split desmosomes and induced microvesiculation of cell membranes. Similar microvesiculation was also induced by duodenal juice. All media except hydrochloric acid eventually produced organelle damage and leaky and disrupted cells. The functional and superficial cells appeared to be able to withstand attack from these experimental media better then did prickle and basal cells. Membrane coating granules were secreted in the presence of hydrochloric acid, but not with enzymes.     

Hereditary aspects of duodenal ulceration: pepsin 1 secretion in relation to ABO blood groups and ABH secretor status.

Pepsin 1, the ulcer-associated pepsin, occurred significantly more frequently in the gastric juice of those patients with duodenal ulcer who did not secrete A, B, or H antigens into gastric juice than in those secreting these antigens. This observation may explain the increased proportion of such non-secretors among patients with duodenal ulceration. In patients with gastric ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia, and in a miscellaneous group of patients, there was no association of pepsin 1 secretion with secretor status, suggesting that the association noted in duodenal ulceration is an indirect rather than a direct one. No increase of pepsin 1 occurred in group O patients with peptic ulcer, so that the increased proportion of such patients in peptic ulcer does not arise from differences in pepsin 1 secretion.     

Assay of gastricsin and individual pepsins in human gastric juice.

AIMS: To develop and validate an analytical procedure for the quantitation of pepsins and gastricsin in human gastric juice and to assess its potential in a controlled gastric secretory study. METHODS: High performance ion-exchange chromatography was used to separate human pepsin 1, 3a, 3b, 3c and gastricsin from gastric juice. Computed chromatographic areas for each enzyme were quantified by relation to a known amount of a secondary standard porcine pepsin. The assay procedure was validated by recovery and analytical precision studies. Gastric secretions after pentagastrin and insulin stimulation from 10 patients with portal hypertension were used to assess the potential of the analytical procedure. RESULTS: The assay precision varied from 1.5 to 9.0% within batch and 7.5 to 18.1% between batch, with about 100% recoveries of porcine pepsin A from human gastric juice over the assay range 0.025-0.5 mg/ml. A fourfold increase in combined pepsin and gastricsin concentration was observed following pentagastrin and insulin stimulation. The mean percentage content of pepsins 3a, 3b, 3c, and 1 in non-stimulated gastric juice were 4%, 72%, 12% and 1.4%, respectively, and did not change significantly after gastric stimulation. An approximate doubling of the percentage of gastricsin (10% to 20%) relative to the pepsins was observed, however, after both insulin and pentagastrin stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure for quantifying individual human pepsins and gastricsin in gastric juice is simple and reliable. It may be of considerable importance in determining the mechanisms involved in the control and secretion of these digestive enzymes in man, including the effect of anti-ulcer drugs and our understanding of the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease.     

A comparison of the pepsin stimulating effects of secretin preparations.

1. The peptic responses to Boots, GIH and synthetic secretins have been compared in fasting anaesthetized cats in which the pylorus and bile duct were occluded to prevent the release of duodenal hormones by acid and bile salts. A quantity of dilute acid introduced into the stomach at regular intervals ensured the total recovery of viscid secretions and preserved peptic activity. 2. The mean peak outputs of pepsin obtained in response to Boots secretin were significantly greater than the mean peak outputs of pepsin stimulated by equipotent doses of GIH secretin (4 Crick-Harper-Raper units of Boots secretin have been shown to stimulate a flow of juice and bicarbonate from the pancreas equal to that produced by 1 clinical unit of GIH secretin). The maximum output of pepsin stimulated by Boots secretin, 16 C.H.R. u./kg hr was 3 times the observed maximum output in response to the 4 times more potent dose of GIH secretin, 16 c.u./kg hr. The slopes of the log dose-response lines were significantly different for these two products indicating that their modes of action in stimulating pepsin may not be identical. 3. The outputs of pepsin following GIH and synthetic secretin were similar. Both these secretins stimulated the secretion of pepsin when infused in doses which stimulated the pancreas supramaximally. The less pure product Boots secretin evoked significantly higher peptic responses at doses submaximal for pancreatic stimulation, suggesting that a substance other than secretin exists in Boots preparations which contributes significantly to the overall output of pepsin in response to this product. The peptic response which was accompanied by a slight increase in acid output, but without any increase in pancreatic lipolytic activity, was not inhibited by atropine. This substance which is not present in highly purified GIH secretin does not appear to be cholic acid, gastrin, pancreozymin, glucagon or insulin. 4. The possibility that a vasodilator substance is present in Boots secretin which by expanding the splanchnic bed increases the concentration of secretin at target sites in the stomach and pancreas seems unlikely, as the flow of pancreatic juice does not increase proportionately with the vast increase in pepsin. A vasodilator substance which specifically affects the gastric vasculature remains a theoretical but unlikely explanation for our observation.     

Effect of 13-NLE-motilin on gastric secretion, serum gastrin level and mucosal blood flow in dogs.

1. In dogs with gastric fistulas and vagally innervated fundic and antral pouches, 13-norleucine-motilin (13-nle-motilin), a synthetic analogue of motilin, infused intravenously in graded doses produced a dose-dependent increase in gastric acid and pepsin outputs. 2. The motilin-induced stimulation of gastric secretion occurred independently of antral pH and was not accompanied by any alteration in the serum gastrin level suggesting that motilin did not affect the release of gastrin. 3. When infused intravenously in a constant dose against a constant background stimulation with pentagastrin or histamine 13-nle-motilin inhibited both acid and pepsin secretion from the main stomach and fundic pouch. 4. The inhibitory effect of 13-nle-motilin was always associated with a marked reduction in mucosal blood flow but without any change in the ratio of aminopyrine concentration in the gastric juice and blood plasma indicating that this peptide primarily affected gastric secretion but did not limit the gastric mucosal microcirculation.     

Prostaglandin E2 in basal gastric secretion and during stimulation of muscarinic receptors in man. Measurements with gas chromatography--mass spectrometry

The physiological importance of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) biosynthesis in the gastric mucosa is unknown. A role of endogenous prostaglandins in protecting the gastrointestinal epithelia has been suggested, but the evidence is insufficient and rarely supported by concomitant measurement of PG production. Amounts of PGE2 in luminal gastric contents which can be sampled atraumatically may reflect PGE2 synthesis in the gastric mucosa in vivo. To confirm earlier reported measurements made with radioimmunoassay we have measured by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) PGE2 in gastric juice of five healthy men under basal conditions and during stimulation of muscarinic receptors with iv. bethanechol which in dog is reported to enhance PGE2 output. PGE2 was detected in all basal samples. The output was in median 32.1 pmol/15 min (range 17.0-105.4, 1 pmol = 0.352 ng), which is similar to results from earlier studies. Bethanechol infusion (60 micrograms . kg-1 . h-1) did not affect PGE2 outputs systematically in spite of a significant increase in outputs of acid and chlorides. Stimulation of muscarinic receptors does not seem to influence PGE2 synthesis in gastric mucosa in vivo. Alternatively changes in PGE2 synthesis may be masked by rapid chemical or enzymatical degradation or reabsorption of PGE2. Studies are under way to explore those phenomena.     

Metabolism of glycoconjugates in human gastric mucosa a review

Glycoconjugates, viz. glycoproteins, glycolipids and proteoglycans, play an important role in the protection of human gastric mucosa against pepsin and hydrochloric acid. The biosynthesis and catabolism of these compounds in the human gastric mucosa have been studied. We isolated and identified the majority of the intermediates and isolated some enzymes, taking part in the biosynthesis of glycoconjugates in the human gastric mucosa, and have demonstrated that the human gastric mucosa is able to release reducing sugars from glycoconjugates and shows some glycosidase activity.     

Influence of gastric juice on human amylase activity]

Although it is well established that amylase activity is inactivated by acid, little is known about the influence of native gastric juice on amylase activity. We investigated the effect of gastric juice, acid, and pepsin on both pancreatic (P-) and salivary (S-) isoamylase activities in vitro. S- and P-isoamylase activities were completely inactivated by HCl (10 mEq/l), but 20% of each isoamylase activity remained when bovine serum albumin (BSA) (3%) was added. However pepsin (0.2 tyrosine mg/ml/min) inactivated both isoamylase activities even though BSA was added. When saliva or pancreatic juice was mixed with gastric juice, both isoamylase activities were detected until the mixing ratio was 3:7 (gastric juice:saliva or pancreatic juice, v/v). It is suggested that some of both isoamylase activities could survive after exposure to gastric juice in the stomach and duodenum, depending on the concentrations of acid and protein in gastric juice, and mixing ratio to gastric juice.     

Morphologic changes in the gastric mucosa of rats and dogs treated with an analog of prostaglandin E1

American Cyanamid compound CL 115,574, a synthetic analog of prostaglandin E1, is active orally in inhibiting gastric acid secretion and in protecting against gastric ulcers induced by stress, ethanol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. CL 115,574 was administered to rats for 6 months and to dogs for 1 year. Diarrhea occurred in both species and transient hyperthermia was observed in dogs. In rats, the only gross finding related to treatment was limited to the gastric mucosa and consisted of a dose-related widening of the cuticular ridge in the mid (2 mg/kg/day) and high (20 mg/kg/day) dose groups. Microscopically, there was a proliferation of the cuticular ridge stratified squamous epithelium. Morphologic findings in the dogs showed a multifocal proliferation of the foveolar epithelium in the pyloric antrum. Neither species had atypical cellular changes associated with the proliferative process. Furthermore, the changes in the dog consisted of well differentiated cells and occurred without pseudostratification of cells and increased mitotic activity. The "pseudoproliferative" character of these changes may be the result of a prolonged life span of most cell types of the gastric mucosa. These tissue adaptations reflect a true manifestation of the cytoprotective effect of prostaglandin E1 on the gastric mucosa.     

Factors influencing metabolism of arachidonic acid in guinea pig gastric mucosa

The metabolism of [14C]arachidonic acid in whole homogenates of gastric corpus mucosa in the guinea pig was characterized. Identity of labeled products was validated by comigration against standards in multiple chromatographic systems and by selective synthesis inhibition. At near-physiological conditions, homogenates converted arachidonic acid to the cyclooxygenase products prostaglandins F2, E2, and D2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 (in descending order of magnitude) and to a lipoxygenase product cochromatographing with 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. However, dramatic qualitative and quantitative changes in this product profile were noted with relatively small changes in incubation temperature, substrate concentration, and especially pH. Whole homogenates generated more prostaglandin and in different proportions than did the microsomal fraction from an equal mass of mucosa. No catabolism of prostaglandin products was observed in whole homogenates. Tissue preparation and storage also influenced prostaglandin synthesis activity. These in vitro observations may have important implications for future studies of prostaglandin generation in small gastric mucosal biopsies.     

电刺激大鼠下丘脑室旁核对胃缺血-再灌注损伤的影响

采用夹闭大鼠腹腔动脉30min，松开动脉夹血流复灌1h的胃缺血－再灌注损伤模型，观察了电刺激和电损毁下丘脑室旁核（paraventricular nucleus,PVN)对大鼠胃缺血－再灌注损伤（gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury,GI-RI的影响，并对其作用机制进行了初步探讨。结果表明：电刺激PVN后GI－RI显著减轻，且有强度－效应依赖关系；PVN内注射胞体兴奋剂L－谷氨酸后，与电刺激PVN的效应相同；电解损毁双侧PVN则能加重GI－RI；电刺激PVN能显著降低GI－RI大鼠的胃粘膜丙二醛（MDA）含量及胃液酸度和胃蛋白酶活性，但对其超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性及胃液量、总酸排出量、胃整结合粘液量无显著影响。提示PVN对GI－RI具有保护作用，其作用机制可能与降低GI－RI大鼠的胃粘膜MDA含量、胃蛋白酶活性、胃液酸度有关，而与胃液量、总酸排出量、胃壁结合粘液量等因素无明显关系。     

Inhibition by prostaglandin E1 of gastric secretion in the dog

1. The effect of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) on gastric secretion was studied in dogs equipped with gastric fundic pouches, either innervated (Pavlov) or denervated (Heidenhain).2. PGE(1) inhibited gastric secretion (volume, acid concentration, acid output, pepsin output) when given either by constant intravenous infusion or by single intravenous injection. The degree of inhibition was dose dependent.3. The antisecretory effect of PGE(1) was demonstrated against gastric stimulants which operate through different mechanisms. Thus, PGE(1) counteracted the secretogogue effect of:(a) histamine dihydrochloride; the ED(50) was 0.5-1.0 mug/kg. min for a submaximal dose, and 1.0-1.5 mug/kg. min for a maximal dose;(b) pentagastrin; the ED(50) was around 0.25 mug/kg. min;(c) food; the ED(50) was 0.5 to 0.75 mug/kg. min;(d) 2-deoxyglucose; the ED(50) was less than 0.1 mug/kg. min.4. Although in some experiments, nausea and vomiting were observed during administration of PGE(1), the antisecretory property of the substance is not related to a vomiting reflex, since(a) an antiemetic, such as atropine, prevented vomiting without interfering with the effect of PGE(1), and(b) profuse vomiting elicited by apomorphine did not reduce gastric secretion stimulated by either histamine or pentagastrin.5. The mechanism by which PGE(1) inhibits gastric secretion is unknown. Studies by others have shown that the compound reduces gastric mucosal blood flow, inhibits acid formation from gastric mucosa when applied in vitro and may change the rate of formation of gastric cyclic AMP. It is likely that PGE(1) interferes with biochemical processes, within parietal and chief cells, which lead to elaboration of gastric juice.6. Unlike most gastric inhibitors, PGE(1) appears to act as a protective shield against most, if not all, gastric stimulants. Since prostaglandins of the E series are naturally occurring substances and are normally present in the stomach, they may play a role in the regulation of gastric secretion.     

Immunoblot technique to visualise serum pepsinogen A isozymogen patterns.

Pepsinogen A (PGA) isozymogen patterns in urine and gastric mucosa can be visualised in non-denatured polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by showing proteolytic activity after the conversion of pepsinogen into pepsin by acid. This method is not suitable for visualising PGA patterns in serum due to low PGA concentrations. To obtain a more sensitive visualisation method an immunoblotting technique was developed. PGA isozymogen patterns from urine and sonified gastric mucosa specimens obtained by immunoblotting were identical with those obtained by activity staining. The immunostaining method was at least 50 times more sensitive. PGA isozymogen patterns could be visualised in serum. Preliminary results suggest that the PGA patterns in serum and gastric mucosa are identical. As an association has been found between the genetically determined PGA isozymogen patterns in gastric mucosa and gastric malignancies in man, immunoblotting of PGA isozymogens in serum may provide a screening tool for subjects at risk of malignant gastric disease.     

Secretion of calcium in pancreatic juice.

1. The orgin of the calcium secreted by the pancreas has been investigated in vivo in the guinea-pig by a study carried out in parallel (a) in the juice secreted in response to the injection of either secretin or caerulein and (b) in the pancreatic tissue and in cell fractions isolated thereform. 2. In agreement with previous findings we observed that the concentration of calcium is low in the secretin-stimulated and high in the caerulein-stimulated juice. In the latter calcium and protein are proportional (cal0 n-mole:mg). 3. After I.V. injection of 45Ca the radioactivity decreases rapidly and quasi-exponentially in the blood plasma. A roughly parallel time course is found in the secretin-stimulated juice: the evolution of the juice: plasma radioactivity ratio resembles that observed with the extraceullar space marker [3H]D-sorbitol. In contrast, the time course of 45Ca in plasma and caerulein-stimulated juice are not proportional: the high levels characteristic of this juice are reached several minutes after the injection and maintained thereafter. This increase is followed ca. 50 min later by the appearance of the newly synthesized [3H]L-leucine-labelled proteins. 4. The pancreatic tissue is rich in calcium which is localized primarily in zymogen granules (Ca.36 n-mole:mg protein) and mitochondria; the soluble cytoplasm is low in calcium. 5. The injected 45Ca accumulates in zymogen granules faster than [3H]L-leucine-labelled proteins. The 45Ca:protein ratio of these organelles is considerably lower than that of the caerulein-stimulated juice. 6. It is concluded (a) that calcium is secreted in to the pancreatic juice in two fractions, one (possibly released by simple diffusion) associated with the electrolyte component, the other with protein of the juice, (b) that zymogen granules are the major, but not the only source of the latter fraction, and (c) that the zymogen granule-associated calcium joins the exportable proteins some time after their synthesis, possibly in the Golgi complex and/or in the condensing vacuoles.