Effects of diclofenac sodium on the gastric mucosa of the rat: a histological, morphometric and hormonal study

ABSTRACT

The present histological and hormonal investigation showed that the gastric mucosa of the rat has responded to the oral and parenteral diclofenac treatment by two protective mechanisms. The first of these was a temporary increased production of surface mucus and the second was a squamous metaplasia of the surface epithelium. Both changes were more marked in the orally treated animals. The squamous metaplasia was associated with a significant increase in the number of the parietal cells per unit area. It is suggested that these changes were produced by a direct effect of the drug on the stem cells from which the parietal and epithelial cells were derived or through the effects of gastrin hormone. The antral and serum levels of this hormone were significantly elevated after oral diclofenac treatment