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blood flow, acidity and atrophic changes of the gastric mucosa in Mongolian gerbils infected with Helicobacter pylori
Author(s) -
Miyazaki Sebastião Mitsuji,
Matsuda Mimian Graciela,
Misumi Atsunobu,
Honmyo Ubehiko,
Murakami Akitoshi,
Murata Hiroshi,
Sagara Katsuro,
Kurano Ryouichi,
Okabe Hiroaki
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
digestive endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.5
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1443-1661
pISSN - 0915-5635
DOI - 10.1046/j.1443-1661.2001.d01-8.x
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , gastric mucosa , helicobacter infections , gastroenterology , blood flow , atrophic gastritis , helicobacter , pathology , stomach , gastritis
Background: We used a Mongolian gerbil model to evaluate the effects of long‐term Helicobacter pylori infection on blood flow, gastric acidity and atrophic change of the gastric mucosa. Methods: Infected animals were divided into eight groups according to the duration of infection: 3 months infection (MI), 6 MI, 9 MI, 12 MI, 18 MI, 24 MI, 30 MI and 36 MI ( n = 6 in the 3–30 MI groups and n = 11 in the 36 MI group). Control animals were divided into the same eight groups (3–36 MC; n = 6 in each group). Blood flow and gastric acidity were measured and atrophic changes were analyzed in each group. The gastric mucosa was divided into areas termed F (chief cells observed continuously), f1 (number of chief cells decreased and no longer continuous), f2 (parietal cells scattered and chief cells not seen) and P (only pyloric glands observed). Atrophic changes were classified as normal, mild, moderate and severe on the basis of the percentage of the F area and the presence or absence of the f2 area. Results: Blood flow did not show any significant difference between the control groups, but decreased significantly in the 12–36 MI groups compared with the 3–9 MI groups ( P < 0.0001). The pH was significantly higher in the 12–36 MC groups than in the 6 and 9 MC groups ( P < 0.002). The pH was significantly higher in the 9–36 MI groups than in the 6 MI group ( P < 0.006). Atrophic changes were not found in the 3–9 MC groups, but mild atrophic changes were observed in the 12–24 MC groups and moderate atrophic changes were observed in the 30 and 36 MC groups. Atrophic changes were moderate in the 3–18 MI groups and severe in the 24–36 MI groups. Conclusion: The present study shows that atrophic changes progress with aging naturally and that H. pylori infection accelerates this change to induce a severe decrease in blood flow and gastric acid secretion.