Acute gastric erosions in the rat. I. Microangiography.

Microangiography of the gastric mucosa was performed in 16 adult rats 5 hours after administration of indomethacin. Superficial gastric erosions were induced irrespective of the route of administration. Microangiography demonstrated absence of vascular dilatation underneath the superficial gastric erosions, suggesting absence of protracted vascular spasm or microthrombosis in eroded areas. The presence of normal microangiographic appearances underneath the gastric erosions suggests that such lesions may be induced by mechanisms other than by vascular injury.