ALTERATIONS IN PORCINE GASTRIC MUCIN DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL ULCERATION

Bile duct ligation in the pig results in ulceration of the pars oesoph agea (oesophagogastric junction) within 48 h with 100% reproducibility . This work describes novel observations made during development of su ch ulcers using an endoscope introduced at intervals postoperatively v ia a Thomas gastric cannula. Macroscopic and histological changes were recorded and compared with quantitative and qualitative changes in cr ude mucus scrapings and purified mucins. Crude mucus scrapings of the cardiac gland region had a higher protein content in the ulcerated sta tes than in the normals. After bile duct ligation, the (degraded) muci n glycopeptide/total protein ratio was higher in partially purified mu cus from pre-ulcerated and ulcerated stomachs as compared with normal samples. The quantity of purified mucin was less in samples from ulcer ated stomachs, and the N-acetylgalactosamine and fucose contents were also decreased. It is possible that these changes resulted in the fail ure of the mucus barrier and the development of oesophagogastric junct ion ulceration.