An experimental model for studying passive cigarette smoking effects on gastric ulceration.

Cigarette smoking is associated with gastric mucosal damage in humans. For this study, a smoke chamber was designed to investigate the effects of passive smoking on gastric ulceration. Different concentrations of cigarette smoke (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) were perfused into a chamber for one hr in which conscious rats were placed. This one-hr smoke exposure potentiated ethanol (70%, v/v, p.o.)-induced gastric mucosal damage and increased serum nicotine levels; however, it did not affect the blood pH, pCO2, pO2, and HCO3 concentrations, or the systemic blood pressure and heart rate. Under these experimental conditions, exposure to cigarette smoke produced no significant changes in the blood acid/base balance and stress in the animals but significantly potentiated ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. The present experimental model is suitable for studying the adverse interactions between passive smoking and alcohol drinking in gastric ulcer formation in rats.