Delayed healing of acetic-acid-induced gastric ulcer in portal hypertensive rats.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of portal hypertension on the healing of gastric ulcers in rats. Portal hypertension was induced by staged portal vein ligation. Sham-operated (SO) rats served as controls. Gastric ulcers were induced by application of acetic acid to the serosal surface of the stomach. Healing was assessed by determining the ulcer area on days 3, 7, and 10 after ulcer induction. Epithelial proliferation at the ulcer margin was assessed by evaluating the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index. On days 3 and 7, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index was lower in portal hypertensive (PHT) rats than in SO rats. On day 10, the ulcer area in PHT rats was nearly twice that in SO rats (4.13 +/- 0.29 vs. 2.28 +/- 0.22 mm(2), p < 0.05). These results suggest that portal hypertension may delay gastric ulcer healing. Furthermore, the inhibition of epithelial proliferation at the ulcer margin may be involved in the delayed healing in portal hypertension.