A rat surgical model of esophageal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma-induced by mixed reflux of gastric acid and duodenal contents.

Recent clinical data have revealed that mixed reflux (MR) of gastric acid and duodenal contents frequently occurs in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and a progressive increase of MR occurs with increasing severity across gastroesophageal reflux disease. Herein we report a novel rat surgical model in which esophageal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma develop as complications of MR. The model was created by performing an esophagojejunostomy and a gastrojejunostomy 5 mm proximal to the esophagojejunal anastomosis in 40 rats. Severe inflammatory and proliferative changes, high prevalence of esophageal metaplasia (78%), and adenocarcinoma (50%) were observed in the lower part of the esophagus of rats 20 weeks after surgery. The resulting esophageal lesions resembled those described in humans and supported a progression from intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia and, ultimately, esophageal adenocarcinoma. Such a model may provide a useful tool in study of human reflux-induced carcinogenesis.