Gastric cytoprotection by epidermal growth factor

Abstract

Abstract This study was designed to compare the gastric cytoprotective effects of epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin E 2 and I 2 in rats and cats treated with aspirin and i.v. histamine or intragastric instillation of HCl solution to develop gastric mucosal lesions. Epidermal growth factor given in nonantisecretory doses prevented dose-dependent aspirin-induced gastric ulcers, and this effect was similar to that obtained with nonantisecretory doses of prostaglandin E 2 or prostaglandin I 2 infused alone or in combination with aspirin did not affect the generation of mucosal prostaglandins, suggesting that its cytoprotective effect was not mediated by mucosal prostaglandins. The formation of aspirin-induced ulcers resulted in a significant reduction in DNA synthesis, and this was brought back to normal levels by the administration of epidermal grow factor or prostaglandins given in nonantisecretory cytoprotective doses. We conclude that epidermal growth factor is capable of protecting gastric mucosa against chemical injury caused by aspirin and this protective action is accompanied by a stimulation of DNA synthesis probably as the consequence of tissue preservation by this agent.