Four types of experimental chronic ulcer models, named acetic acid ulcer models, have been developed to examine the healing process of peptic ulcers, screen anti-ulcer drugs, and better evaluate the adverse effects of various anti-inflammatory drugs on the gastrointestinal mucosa. The model easily and reliably produces round, deep ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, allowing acetic acid ulcer production in mice, rats, Mongolian gerbils, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, miniature pigs, and monkeys. These ulcer models highly resemble human ulcers in terms of both pathological features and healing process. The models have been established over the past 35 years and are now used throughout the world by basic and clinical scientists. One of the characteristic features of acetic acid ulcers in rats is the spontaneous relapse of healed ulcers Ͼ100 d after ulceration, an endoscopically confirmed phenomenon. Indomethacin significantly delays the healing of acetic acid ulcers, probably by reducing endogenous prostaglandins and inhibiting angiogenesis in ulcerated tissue. Helicobacter pylori significantly delays healing of acetic acid ulcers and causes relapse of healed ulcers at a high incidence in Mongolian gerbils. Anti-secretory drugs (e.g. omeprazole), prostaglandin analogs, mucosal defense agents (e.g. sucralfate), and various growth factors all significantly enhance healing of acetic acid ulcers. Gene therapy with epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor applied to the base of acetic acid ulcers in rats is effective in enhancing ulcer healing. Since an inhibitor of nitric oxide syntase prevents ulcer healing, nitric oxide might be involved in the mechanism underlying ulcer healing. We conclude that acetic acid ulcer models are quite useful for various studies related to peptic ulcers.

Endogenous prostaglandins (PGs), produced from arachidonic acid by the two isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX), play a pivotal role in maintaining mucosal integrity by modulating various functions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and PGE2 is most effective in these actions. The PGE2 receptor is classified into 4 specific G-protein coupled subtypes, EP1-EP4, and their distribution accounts for the multiple effects of this prostanoid. PGE2 prevents acid-reflux esophagitis and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions through EP1 receptors, while endogenous PGs protect the stomach against cold restraint stress mediated by mainly PGI2/IP receptors and partly EP4 receptors. PGE2 also exhibits a protective effect against acid-induced duodenal damage and indomethacin-induced small intestinal lesions mediated by EP3/EP4 receptors; these effects in the stomach, duodenum, or small intestine are associated functionally with inhibition of gastric contraction (EP1), stimulation of duodenal HCO3 - secretion (EP3/EP4), or suppression of bacterial invasion due to the inhibition of intestinal motility (EP4) as well as stimulation of mucus secretion (EP3/EP4), respectively. PGE2 also prevents ischemiainduced enteritis and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mediated by EP4 receptors, and the protective mechanisms may be related to the stimulation of mucus secretion and the down-regulation of immune response, respectively. Furthermore, PGE2 shows a healing-promoting effect on gastric ulcers and small intestinal lesions through the up-regulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stimulation of angiogenesis via the activation of EP4 receptors. Finally, COX-1 is mainly responsible for the production of endogenous PGs involved in mucosal protection, while COX-2 is mainly responsible for those involved in the healing of gastric ulcers or small intestinal lesions. These findings contribute to future development of new strategies for the treatment of GI diseases.

No abstract

SummaryRecent studies have demonstrated that the complement system participates in the regulation of T cell functions. To address the local biosynthesis of complement components in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mucosa, we investi-

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEChemotherapeutic agents, including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), frequently cause intestinal mucositis resulting in severe diarrhoea and morphological mucosal damage. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are clinically effective in the treatment of nausea and emesis during cancer chemotherapy. Therefore we here have examined the effects of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists on 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHIntestinal mucositis was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by daily administration of 5-FU (50 mg·kg ), on the accompanying histology, cytokine production and apoptosis were assessed. KEY RESULTSContinuous administration of 5-FU to mice caused severe intestinal mucositis, which was histologically characterized by the shortening of villi and destruction of intestinal crypts, accompanied by body weight loss and diarrhoea. Daily ramosetron administration dose-dependently reduced the severity of intestinal mucositis, body weight loss and diarrhoea. Similar beneficial effects were observed with ondansetron. The number of apoptotic, caspase-3-and caspase-8-activated cells increased 24 h after the first 5-FU administration, and these responses were reduced by ramosetron. The up-regulation of TNF-a, IL-1b and IL-6 following 5-FU treatment was also attenuated by ramosetron. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS5-HT3 receptor antagonists ameliorated 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis in mice, and this action could result from suppression of apoptotic responses in the intestinal crypt cells via inhibition of cytokine expression. Thus, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists may be useful for preventing not only nausea and emesis but also intestinal mucositis during 5-FU chemotherapy.