The effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) and interferon α (IFN-α) in the prevention of strictures due to corrosive esophagitis in rats were investigated. Forty rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Corrosive esophagitis was induced in all groups by application of 37.5% NaOH to the distal esophagus for a period of 90 s followed by saline rinse. Histopathologic damage was significantly lower in the PTX and IFN-α-treated groups than in the untreated group. During the study period, PTX and INF-α-treated animals showed a significant increase in body weight when compared to controls. However, PTX provided more significant prevention of stricture formation than IFN-α. In the PTX-treated group, the wall thickness and quantity of hydroxyprolin were significantly lower than in the untreated and IFN-α-treated groups. Stenosis index in the PTX group was significantly reduced compared to the control group. PTX prevents the stricture formation due to corrosive esophagitis in this experimental model. IFN-α was also shown to prevent stricture formation when considering amelioration of histopathologic damage and increase in body weight.

In the experimental stress literature, the results of investigations have not shown a specific sex-dependent vulnerability to stress ulceration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of sex differences on stress ulcer development. Related to gender, the contributing factors for stress ulcer production such as luminal acidity, sialic acid as an marker of gastric mucosal protection, oxygen (O2)-derived free radicals and endogenous antioxidant defence mechanisms were also investigated. Fifty Wistar Albino rats weighing about 230 g and aged 7 or 8 months were divided equally into five groups: Group I normal male rats, group II castrated male rats, group III normal female rats in estrus phase, group IV normal female rats in diestrus phase and group V castrated female rats. Cold restraint model was used for 6 hours to produce stress ulcer. No statistically significant difference was found out between groups in view of gross and histopathologic damage. There was no significant difference between groups according to gastric luminal acidity, gastric mucosal sialic acid, gastric malonaldehyde (MDA) and catalase values. Gastric superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly lower in Group I in comparison to those of Group III and IV. Sex differences do not interfere stress ulcer formation. SOD activity in rat gastric tissue has varied significantly by hormonal milieu.

No abstract

No abstract