Bacterial colonization and healing of gastric ulcers: the effects of epidermal growth factor

Experimental gastric ulcers are rapidly colonized by various bacteria, resu lting in significantly impaired healing. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is c apable of preventing bacterial colonization of the healthy intestinal mucos a. In this study, we examined the possibility that EGF accelerates gastric ulcer healing by reducing bacterial colonization of the ulcer. Gastric ulce rs were induced by serosal application of acetic acid. The effect of daily administration of EGF on ulcer healing and bacterial colonization was asses sed and compared with the effect of daily treatment with broad-spectrum ant ibiotics. EGF administration reduced colonization levels and accelerated ul cer healing as effectively as the antibiotic treatment. EGF was without eff ect on acid secretion or neutrophil infiltration into the ulcer. Bacterial growth was not inhibited in the presence of EGF in vitro. These results dem onstrate that EGF reduces bacterial colonization during an established infe ction of a compromised mucosal surface. This effect may contribute to the a bility of EGF to accelerate gastric ulcer healing. This effect is acid inde pendent and not due to an anti-inflammatory effect or to direct bactericida l actions.