Increased susceptibility to injury and normal reactivity to prostaglandin protection of mucous cells isolated from gastric mucosa of portal hypertensive rats.

We examined the susceptibility of mucous cells isolated from gastric mucosa of portal hypertensive rats to ethanol injury. In addition, we assessed their response to protective action of prostaglandin against ethanol injury in vitro. Ethanol significantly decreased cell viability in calcium-containing medium. The injury of mucous cells isolated from portal hypertensive rats was more extensive than those isolated from sham-operated rats. Ethanol-induced cell injury was reduced similarly in both groups by pretreatment with 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2. These results suggest that mucous cells isolated from portal hypertensive gastric mucosa are more susceptible to ethanol injury and this susceptibility is dependent on extracellular calcium. The cells from portal hypertensive gastric mucosa retain, however, sensitivity to protective action of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2.