Cetraxate improves ethanol-induced gastric mucosal congestion in anesthetized dogs.

Gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance in experimental animals is stressed as an important factor in the development of gastric ulceration induced by ethanol. In this study, we used a reflectance spectrophotometry system to investigate the effect of cetraxate on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal hemodynamics in anesthetized dogs. Forty percent ethanol caused a significant increase in the mucosal blood volume and a significant decrease in mucosal hemoglobin oxygenation. The changes in these parameters indicated mucosal congestion and tissue hypoxia. Topical administration of cetraxate (200 mg in 10 ml saline) prevented the increase in mucosal blood volume and decrease in mucosal hemoglobin oxygenation which had been induced by ethanol loading in the stomach. In conclusion, cetraxate showed a protective effect on mucosal microcirculation that resulted in the maintenance of the gastric mucosal integrity against ethanol loading in the gastric mucosa.