ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of Weipixiao on the ultrastructure of gastric mucosa capillaries in rats with precancerous lesions of gastric cancer ( PLGC). Methods The rats were randomized into six groups, including normal group, model group, Vatacoenayme Tablets group ( 0.2 g·kg-1·d-1) , and high-, middle-, and low- dose Weipixiao groups ( 15, 7.5, and 3.75 g·kg-1·d-1 respectively) . The rats received spontaneous intake of N-methyl-N’-nitro-nitrosoguanidine ( MNNG, 200 μg/mL) solution combined with irregular diet and intragastric administration of purgative herbs Xiao Chengqi Decoction ( 2 mL, containing 1 g/mL crude drug) for 18 weeks to induce spleen-deficiency PLGC. The pathological changes in gastric mucosa and the ultrastructure of gastric mucosa capillaries were observed under the transmission electron microscope. Results The model has been established successfully. Transmission electron microscopy results in the model group showed as severely swollen endothelial cells of gastric mucosa capillaries, severely-narrowing or even blocked vascular lumens, rough and discontinuous basement membrane, and swollen, degenerated or even absent pericytes. And the ultrastructure of gastric mucosa capillaries in high-, middle-, and low- dose Weipixiao groups were improved to some degrees, the effect of low-dose Weipixiao group being the best. Conclusion The improvement of the mucosal microcirculation of spleen-deficiency PLGC rats may be one of the pathohistological mechanisms of Weipixiao for spleen-deficiency PLGC.