Inhibitory Effect of Omentopexy on Experimental Chronic Gastric Antral Ulcer Formation

Abstract

Hypoperfusion of the antral mucosa has been suggested as a component contributing to the pathogenesis of indomethacin-induced chronic antral ulcers in the rat. Omentum has been shown to induce angiogenesis, and when fixed to the serosa of the rat intact gastrointestinal tract to stimulate the development of vascular collaterals across the coapted surfaces. We have investigated whether such an enhanced blood supply to the antral mucosa could prevent indomethacin-induced chronic antral ulcers in the rat. Omentum was fastened to the serosa of the anterior wall of the gastric antrum. Six weeks later (period needed for vascular collaterals to develop), chronic gastric ulcers were induced in all animals. Twenty-four hours after the induction of ulcers, rats were sacrificed. The ulcer area was estimated and expressed as the ulcer index. The experimental schedule for control rats was the same as for rats which underwent surgery except initial omentopexy. Compared with control rats, the ulcer index was significantly reduced in rats which underwent omentopexy. In conclusion, omentopexy has the capacity to reduce the extent of indomethacin-induced chronic gastric ulcers in rats. This protection might be partially attributed to vascular ingrowth from omentum into the gastric antrum.