Prostaglandin E2 may play the role in the control of gastric secretion, protective action of gastric mucosa and may be involved in pathophysiologic process of the peptic ulcer.
PGEz was measured by radioimmunoassay in endoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from 12 healthy volunteers, 6 patients with duodenal ulcer, 9 with chronic gastritis, and 6 with intestinal metaplasia. We also studied the effects of indomethacin on PGEZ levels in rat gastric mucosa.
The results were as follows:
1. In the healthy volunteers, mean PGEZ value of antral mucosa was 302. 12132.21 ng/g, which was higher than that of the body with 171. 1737. 34 ng/g (p<0. 05), or that of the duodenum with 54.66 32.86 ng/g (p <0. 01).
The PGEZ level of the duodenum was significantly lower than that of the body.
2. In the 6 patients with duodenal ulcer, mean PGEZ level of duodenal bulb was 42!.2111.01 ng/g,
which was lower than that of the antrum with 145. 2821.54 ng/g, or that of the body with 127. 83
86.31ng/g(p<0. 01). Antral PGEZ level in patients with duodenal ulcer was lower than that of the
healthy volunteers(p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in PGEZ level of the body
and that of the duodenal bulb.
3. In patients with chronic gastritis, there was no significant difference in PGEZ levels of the antrum,
body, and the duodenal bulb from those of the healthy volunteers. However, in patients with intesti-
nal metaplasia, PGEZ levels from all areas were significantly lower than those from all other patients.
4. In all four groups, the mucosal PGEZ levels of the duodenal bulb were significantly lower than those
of the antrum and the body.
5. In the animal studies, mean antral PGEZ values of the rat was 130. 1277. 47 ng/g, which was higher
than that of the body with 91. 5185. 09 n.-%g, but the difference was not significant.
6. With indomethacin treatment, the mucosal PGEZ level_ of the antrum and body was significantly
lower than that of the control group, and the treatment with 20,ugi´kg of indomethacin resulted in
a great decrease in PGEZ level than that with 6 ;ug,´kg of indomethacin..
As a result, gastric and duodenal mucosal PGEZ levels were different from those of gastric body, antrum and duodenal bulb, and PGEZ level may be one of the pathophysiologic factors of duodenal ulcer.
Lower PGEZ levels were observed in patients with intestinal metaplasia, the cause of these Iower values are unknown and need further study.
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