ENHANCEMENT IN THE PROTECTIVE QUALITIES OF GASTRIC MUCUS BY EBROTIDINE DURING DUODENAL-ULCER HEALING

1. Gastric mucus from duodenal ulcer patients before and following the rapy with a new antiulcer agent, ebrotidine, at 400, 600 and 800 mg do se was examined for changes in the physicochemical qualities and anti- H. pylori activity. 2. The results of physical measurements revealed t hat successful therapy with ebrotidine was accompanied by a 25% increa se in gastric mucus viscosity, and a 20% increase in H+ retardation ca pacity, while its hydrophobicity increased by 11%. 3. The enhancement in the physical properties of mucus with ebrotidine therapy were also reflected in a marked (2.6-2.9-fold) increase in the proportion of the high molecular weight form of mucin. Furthermore, following therapy w ith ebrotidine, the gastric mucins showed a 36% higher content of sulf ate as compared to that before the therapy. 4. Assays on the H. pylori aggregating titer of gastric mucin revealed that ebrotidine therapy a t all three doses evoked a 4-fold increase in mucin anti-H. pylori act ivity. 5. The data demonstrate that duodenal ulcer therapy with ebroti dine leads to a marked improvement in the protective qualities of gast ric mucus essential for the maintenance of mucosal integrity and enhan ces the inherent mucosal defense against H. pylori infection.