Studies of Helicobacter pylori in a gastric mucosa in vitro animal model.

A gastric mucosa in vitro model for studies of experimental Helicobacter pylori infections has been developed. Biopsy specimens were taken from pig gastric mucosa, infected with H. pylori, and cultured for up to 72 h. To determine the degree of H. pylori adhesion, specimens were vigorously rinsed by vortexing five times before measuring viable count and urease activity. The results showed that it is possible to culture pig gastric mucosa in vitro with maintained viability for at least 72 h. According to the viable count, the bacteria survived and multiplied during the whole culture period. The percentage viable H. pylori in the specimens after rinsing and the urease activity increased with time of culture. The results indicate that the bacteria in the gastric specimens were viable after 72 h and that there was a time-dependent increase in bacterial adhesion to the specimens. This in vitro gastric mucosa model promises to be an applicable and reproducible method, with high capacity, for both pathogenic and mechanistic studies of H. pylori infection.