Protective action of tetraprenylacetone against ethanol-induced damage in rat gastric mucosa.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological and physiological effects of tetraprenylacetone (TPA) on ethanol(ET)-induced injury in rat gastric mucosa. Fasted rats received orally the following agents; a) vehicle (VH); b) 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg of TPA; c) indomethacin (IDM, 5 mg/kg), 30 min prior to TPA (200 mg/kg). Thirty minutes later, 1 ml of absolute ET was administered into the rat stomach. The gastric mucosa was assessed at 60 min after administration of ET. The ulcer index was significantly decreased by TPA in a dose-related fashion when compared with controls. Histological studies also showed significant reduction of ET-induced mucosal damage by TPA. A scanning electron microscopic study revealed that, when TPA was administered, surface epithelial cells of fundic mucosa were protected against ET-induced injury. The decrease of potential difference induced by ET was diminished by TPA (p less than 0.01). Addition of IDM significantly reduced the effect of TPA. This indicates that TPA has a protective effect on rat gastric mucosa against ET-induced injury. The data also suggested that endogenous prostaglandins may be partially involved in this effect of TPA.