Histological examination of gastric mucosal lesions induced by isolation in saline and cimetidine treated rat.

It has been recently pointed out that the most reliable method of assessment of gastric mucosal injury is the microscopic examination of the tissue. The purpose of the present paper was, therefore, to study the histological features of gastric lesions induced by a six week isolation in rats. It has also been investigated whether a two week treatment, beginning four weeks after isolation, with cimetidine 80 and 160 mg kg-1 p.o. daily could protect the gastric mucosa. In saline treated rats, histological examination of haemorrhagic areas showed that both surface epithelium and gastric pits were damaged or even completely absent with a consequent surfacing of subepithelial vessels. Damage extended deeply into the gastric glands with evidence of necrotic cells in the corpus and fundus. Simultaneous occurrence of the process of restitution was evident. Cimetidine partially lessened the severity of damage and appeared to favour the restitution processes.