EFFECT OF ENPROSTIL AND CIMETIDINE ON ETHANOL-INDUCED DAMAGE TO INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL-CELL LINES IRD-98 AND IEC-17

In addition to their inhibitory action on gastric acid secretion, pros taglandins may exert part of their protective effect on the gastrointe stinal mucosa by specifically maintaining the cellular integrity of th e intestinal epithelium. This in vitro study investigated the cytoprot ective effect conferred on intestinal epithelial cell lines IRD 98 and IEC 17 against ethanol injury by the synthetic prostaglandin enprosti l and compared effects with those of the histamine H-2-receptor blocke r cimetidine. Exposure to 3% ethanol (652 mM) reduced cell viability a nd increased the cAMP and membrane fluidity of both cell lines. Our re sults demonstrate that: (i) enprostil exerts a significant cytoprotect ive effect against damage by ethanol; (ii) cimetidine has no cytoprote ctive effect; (iii) IRD 98 cells are more sensitive to enprostil than IEC 17 cells.