Effect of intragastric infusion of tobacco powder on DNA content of gastric aspirate.

The DNA content in gastric aspirate was measured before and during intragastric infusion of 0.1 or 0.2 g/hr tobacco powder. The infusion of 0.1 g/hr caused an insignificant rise in the DNA content but infusion of 0.2 g/hr of tobacco caused a marked and rapid rise in the DNA content of gastric aspirate during the hour of infusion. The effect of tobacco was transient (ie, only during the period of infusion). These observations indicate that the increased exfoliation of surface epithelial cells of human gastric mucosa with tobacco infusion is dose related.