Microscopic Studies on the Effects of Esomeprazole on the Gastric Mucosa: An Experimental Study in Albino Rat

ABSTRACT

Background: Detailed histopathological and histomorphometric analysis of gastric mucosa after long term treatment or ingestion of esomeprazole specifically is lacking in literature. Methods: 24 male and female rats, 12 each were divided into control and experimental groups (6 each for both sexes). Rats of experimental group got 15 mg/kg body weight of esomeprazole by oral intubation for 130 days. After perfusion fixation by Karnovsky’s solution, two pieces of gastric wall were procured from anterior aspect, 1 each from distal part of body and pyloric region respectively. Sections of 8 μm thickness, obtained by using wax embedding technique, were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Results: In both the regions of stomach in two sexes of control rats, the mucosa showed 1/5th superficial layer of absorptive epithelial cells,3/5th parietal and deepest 1/5th layer of pepsin secreting glands. Parietal and pepsin gland layers were involved in body of male and pyloric region of female. Marked oedema, hypertrophy and hyperplasia were uniformly observed in experimental animals. Conclusion: Atrophic gastritis observed in female pyloric region is an alarming observation because it is the precursor of gastric carcinoma.