Protection of gastric surface epithelial cells of rats by 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 and sofalcone, a synthetic flavonoid derivative of sophoradin, against ethanol.

We studied the effects of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dm-PGE2) and sofalcone, a new antiulcer agent developed in Japan, on ethanol damage to isolated surface epithelial cells (SEC) in vitro and gastric mucosa of rats in vivo. Rats were given 5 micrograms/kg dm-PGE2, 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg sofalcone, or the vehicle, intraperitoneally. In the in vitro study, damage of the SEC isolated from rats given dm-PGE2 or sofalcone was significantly less after exposure to 15% ethanol than for the SEC from the control rats. In the in vivo study, the 15% ethanol did not induce gross visible damage, but did cause surface epithelial damage in the control rats as judged by scanning electron microscopy. This damage was inhibited by dm-PGE2 or sofalcone. Damage from absolute ethanol was inhibited by both of the agents as judged by the gross appearance, but the surface epithelium was damaged in all rats. We concluded that dm-PGE2 and sofalcone protect gastric mucosa from gross damage caused by absolute ethanol, and protect SEC both in vivo and in vitro from being damaged by ethanol when the concentration of ethanol is 15%.