The healing effect of TGF-α on gastric ulcer induced by acetylsalicylic acid in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of microemulsion and aqueous solution containing transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) and/or aprotinin administered intragastrically (i.g.) on healing of acute gastric ulcers induced by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The microemulsion was prepared by modification of the microemulsion formulation described in our previous study. Actue gastric lesions were induced by the application of ASA (150 mg/kg in 1.5 ml of 0.2 N HCl i.g.). TGF-alpha in solution or microemulsion formulations were administered at a dose of 10 mug/kg per 24 h i.g. for 2 days. The effects of TGF-alpha on the healing was evaluated with the measurement of ulcer score, basal gastric acid secretion, total protein content of gastric fluid, gastric mucus level and histological analysis. The results indicated that the highest decrease in ulcer area was observed in group treated with microemulsion containing TGF-alpha plus aprotinin (TA-ME). TGF-alpha in microemulsion formulation was more effective than TGF-alpha in solution formulation in the increase of gastric mucus secretion, in the decrease of gastric acid secretions and ulcer scores. Histological evaluation of the gastric mucosa samples revealed that, best recovery was obtained in the TA-ME treated group. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.