Study of the repairing process of gastric ulcer using multivariate analysis of bFGF-positive cells, haemodynamics, PAS-positive mucus amount and glandular index in the gastric mucosa.

To investigate pathophysiological diversities in the repairing process of gastric ulcer, distribution density of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-positive fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, mucosal haemoglobin content, PAS-positive mucus amount and glandular index were compared in the peripheral region of an open ulcer (the unhealed group; n = 17), the central region of a red scar (the red scar group; n = 32) and the central region of the white scar (white scar group; n = 32). Density of bFGF-positive fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells was highest in the unhealed group, followed by the red scar group, while the white scar group showed a low value close to control. Mucosal haemoglobin content was high in the red scar and unhealed groups. PAS-positive mucus amount in the unhealed and red scar groups showed lower values compared with that in the white scar group. Glandular index in the unhealed group was the lowest, followed by the red scar group, while the white scar group neared control values. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the density of bFGF-positive "fibroblasts and myofibroblasts' and density of bFGF-positive vascular endothelial cells, between the density of bFGF-positive vascular endothelial cells and mucosal haemoglobin content and between the PAS-positive mucus amount and glandular index. Discriminant analysis demonstrated that the unhealed group could be distinguished from the red and white scar groups, based on glandular index, density of bFGF-positive "fibroblasts and myofibroblasts', mucosal haemoglobin content and PAS-positive mucus amount, while the red scar group could be discriminated from the white scar group based on the density of bFGF-positive "fibroblasts and myofibroblasts', density of bFGF-positive vascular endothelial cells, glandular index, haemoglobin content and PAS-positive mucus amount. The white scar group was difficult to discriminate from control. Our present results show that the recovery of glandular formation and mucus production continues throughout the repairing process, whereas the acceleration of angiogenesis and granulation formation is observed only in unhealed ulcers and at the red scar stage.