ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of infrared irradiation on the expression of epidermal growth factor EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the gastric mucosa of rats with chronic atrophic gastritis CAG),and to explore its mechanism.Methods Forty healthy adult and clean Wistar male rats were randomized into a normal control group (N group),a model control group (M group) and an infrared group (I group) using a random number table.CAG was induced in the rats of the M and I groups by intra-gastric infusion of 2 ml of a mixture of 30％ alcohol and 2％ sodium salicylate once every day for 8 weeks.This was combined with compulsory running and irregular fasting as pathogenic factors.After the CAG model had been established,the rats in the I group were given infrared irradiation for 10 rain once every day for 20 days.Then all of the rats were sacrificed and the expression of EGF and EGFR was observed using immunohistochemistry.Results The positive staining scores for EGF and EGFR of the M group were 4.91±2.58 and 6.75±2.63,significantly higher than those of the N group (2.10±0.65 and 4.20±2.24 respectively).Those of the I group were 2.75±1.01 and 4.75± 1.66,significantly lower than those of the M group,though not significantly different from the N group's averages.Conclusion Infrared irradiation can inhibit over-expression of EGF and EGFR in the gastric mucosa of rats with chronic atrophic gastritis.This should protect the gastric mucosa and promote tissue repair and healing.