Experimental Production of Gastric Ulcer.

Abstract

My interest in the experimental production of gastric ulcer was aroused by the finding of two well defined ulcers in the stomach of a cat which had received injections of histamine for another investigation. The cat is a suitable animal to use for the experimental production of gastric ulcers. It exists on a mixed diet comparable to that of man and develops ulcers fairly readily. The above observation led me to examine carefully the stomachs of all cats treated by histamine. Of 4 cats examined 1 showed a spontaneous ulcer on the lesser curvature 1.5 cm. from the pylorus.

There are 2 problems in the pathology of gastric ulcer, first the origin of the initial lesion, and second, the cause of the chronic character. It is a well established fact that histamine when injected subcutaneously increases the flow of gastric secretion and especially the hydrochloric acid. The acid content of the gastric juice has been regarded by some for many years as a potent factor in the causation of chronic gastric ulcer. Ulcers of the peptic type occur in 4 situations: (1) stomach; (2) duodenum; (3) stoma of gastro-jejunostomy; (4) lower end of oesophagus. These areas are more or less continuously in contact with gastric secretion. Gastric ulcers have been known to follow injury caused by the passing of a stomach tube.