Nonprotein sulfhydryl compounds in canine gastric mucosa: effects of PGE2 and ethanol.

By use of an in vivo canine chambered stomach preparation in which the gastric mucosa was partitioned into two equal halves, the effect of topical 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (DMPGE2) (1 microgram/ml of perfusate) and 8% and 40% ethanol on tissue levels of nonprotein sulfhydryl compounds was assessed. Both DMPGE2 and 8% ethanol significantly increased (P less than 0.005) mucosal levels of nonprotein sulfhydryls when compared with corresponding mucosa bathed with saline alone. In contrast, mucosa bathed with 40% ethanol showed significantly decreased levels. If mucosa was bathed with DMPGE2 or 8% ethanol prior to exposing the stomach to 40% ethanol, this depletion in sulfhydryl compounds was not observed. Since other experimental observations have shown that exogenously administered prostaglandins and mild irritants (such as low-dose alcohol) can prevent gastric mucosal damage by necrotizing agents (such as high-dose alcohol), our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that nonprotein sulfhydryls may play a role in mediating gastric mucosal protection.