RAPID EPITHELIAL RESTITUTION OF THE RAT GASTRIC-MUCOSA AFTER ETHANOL INJURY

Authors:
  • ELER LACY
    ER LACY
  • SIS ITO
    S ITO
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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (5) , 573-583
    • PMID:6492759
Abstract
The superficial gastric epithelia of anesthetized rats were exposed to absolute ethanol for 30-45 s and fixed at intervals of 0, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 min thereafter. The repair or restitution process was evaluated by quantitative light microscopy and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The brief exposure to absolute ethanol destroyed > 95% of the superficial epithelial cells without producing deeper, macroscopic, hemorrhagic lesions. Three minutes after ethanol treatment > 90% of the superficial necrotic epithelial cells had broken loose from the mucosa and exposed the basal lamina. Within 7 min .apprx. 45% of the exposed basal lamina was recovered by migrating squamous-low cuboidal epithelial cells from the gastric pits. After 15 min .apprx. 85% of the damaged surface was already covered with mucous cells, and at 1 h about 95% of the previously denuded basal lamina was recovered with more normal appearing columnar epithelial cells. Migrating mucous cells from the gastric pits extended large lamellipodia over the denuded basal lamina and moved at .apprx. 1 to 2 .mu.m/min. Exposure of the healing surface to 10-4 M cytochalasin-D inhibited lamellipodial formation and impeded cell migration. In addition, this drug produced large lucent vacuoles in the persisting mucous cells. Destruction of the normal superficial gastric mucous of the rat may not be as detrimental as generally assumed since the repair process is extremely rapid and efficient.

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