Cytoprotective effect of plasmin inhibitor on necrotizing agent-induced gastric lesions in rats

Computer-based quantitative morphometric analysis of the dynamic characteristics of indomethacin and ethanol-induced gastric lesions in the rat

A computerized morphometric analysis was used to measure the gastric lesions in rats induced by oral administration of 2 mL of 100% EtOH or indomethacin 80 mg/kg. In both cases, the lesions were followed over a period of several days to determine their time course characteristics. Indomethacin lesions were present 1 hr after the administration of the drug and reached a peak after 6 hr. Ethanol lesions appeared as early as 1 min after administration and were fully expressed after 1 hr. Recovery of the gastric mucosa was observed after 2 and 6 days, respectively. The use of this computerized systems allows precise measurements of gastric lesions and facilitates the evaluation of the effect of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract.

Effect of plasmin inhibitors on gastric mucosal permeability in rats

We examined the protective effect of plasmin inhibitors on gastric mucosal vascular permeability in rats. Tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid significantly inhibited the increase in vascular permeability and macroscopic gastric mucosal lesions induced by 50% ethanol and 1% ammonia. The protective effect afforded by plasmin inhibitors was not affected by pretreatment with indomethacin. Our results show that plasmin inhibitors inhibit the increase in gastric vascular permeability and suggest that plasmin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal damage.