Mucus glycoprotein and mucosal protection.

For assessing the participation of mucus glycoproteins in the cytoprotective process, mucus glycoprotein content in the rat gastric mucosa was measured after treatment with 70% ethanol with or without prostaglandin (PG) E derivatives or 20% ethanol pretreatment. Oral administration of two synthetic PGE derivatives did not cause any significant changes in mucus glycoprotein content. Seventy percent ethanol administration caused marked reduction in mucus glycoprotein content (about 50% of control) as well as severe gastric mucosal damage. Treatment with two PGE derivatives (10-100 micrograms/kg) prior to 70% ethanol administration markedly inhibited the gross mucosal lesion, whereas the glycoprotein content under these conditions was significantly less than that in the untreated control group (ranging from 67-88% of control). Pretreatment with 20% ethanol markedly inhibited the gross mucosal damage caused by 70% ethanol dosing but the inhibition in the reduction of mucus glycoprotein content was restricted to about 80% of the untreated controls. In summary, cytoprotection induced by PG was not accompanied by entire conservation of intramucosal mucus glycoprotein in the gastric mucosa.