Studies on the healing promoting action of Z-103 in chronic gastric ulcer models of rats

We studied the healing promoting action of Z-103 on the chronic gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid (AAU) or Fe-ascorbic acid (FAU) in rats. The area of the gastric ulcers, hydroxyproline (Hyp) and DNA contents in the ulcer region were measured as an index of ulcer healing. The area of gastric ulcers was the largest on day 4 and thereafter gradually decreased, but the ulcers still remained at the 14th day. Hyp contents in the ulcer region decreased until the 7th day in both models, and then this level increased. Significant decrease in DNA contents in the ulcer region was observed on the 7th day only in FAU. In AAU and FAU, administration of Z-103 (3 mg/kg/day × 2, p.o.) resulted in a significant decrease in the area of gastric ulcers on the 14th day and a significant increase in Hyp contents in the ulcer region on the 7th day as compared with the control group. Z-103 increased the DNA contents in the ulcer region on the 4th day in AAU and on the 7th day in FAU. These results suggest that tissue destruction surrounding the ulcer region in AAU and FAU models might occur until the 4th or 7th day after operation, and that the acceleration of ulcer healing by Z-103 on these models may be facilitated by the wound healing action of this drug.