ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ANIMAL-MODEL FOR CHRONIC GASTRITIS WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI - POTENTIAL MODEL FOR LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS

Objectives: To assess the suitability of an established experimental m odel for chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori for use in long-term observations. Design: In a 3-year follow-up study of acu te gastritis induced by H. pylori using an established experimental mo del with Japanese monkeys, we compared H. pylori-infected animals (n = 6) with a non-infected control group (n = 7). Colonization by H. pylo ri, gastritis scores, volume of intracellular periodic acid-Schiff-pos itive substances and the height of antral glands were investigated eve ry 3 months for 3 years and compared with those of a control group. Re sults: In the infected group, persistent colonization with H. pylori w as demonstrated by culture and histological examinations. Gastritis sc ores were significantly higher than those of the control group, and th e histological findings were quite similar to those of chronic active gastritis observed in humans. Simultaneously, significant decreases in the contents of periodic acid-Schiff-positive substances and in the h eight of antral glands were also demonstrated in infected animals. Con clusion: In Japanese monkeys, persistent colonization with H. pylori c aused chronic gastritis quite similar to that observed in humans, thus providing a suitable animal model for evaluating the long-term progno sis of H. pylori infection.