Prolylhydroxylase and collagenase activities in the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats and the effects of cimetidine and elcatonin.

We examined the changes in prolylhydroxylase (PH) and interstitial collagenase (CA) activities in the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Gastric ulcers were induced by subserosal injection of acetic acid, and confirmed by endoscopy on the third day. At the acute stage of ulceration, PH activity was not high but CA activity was increased. At the healing stage, PH activity was increased but CA activity gradually decreased to a normal level. Cimetidine did not effect PH activity but tended to increase CA activity in the healing. On the contrary, elcatonin increased PH activity but had little effect on CA activity. The above enzymes seems to be indispensable in the healing of gastric ulcers and effects of antiulcer agents on these enzymes must be considered.