Fine structural and morphometric studies on gastric parietal cells of peptic ulcer patients after long-term treatment with omeprazole

Selective colonization by Helicobacter pylori of the deep gastric glands and intracellular canaliculi of parietal cells in the setting of chronic proton pump inhibitor use

Colonization by Helicobacter pylori of the acid-secreting tubules of gastric glands and the canaliculi of parietal cells has only rarely been reported. The presence of these organisms in such "deep" locations has only been reported in association with the more typical superficial colonization of the mucous gel layer overlying gastric epithelial cells. We report two cases of deep H. pylori infection without the presence of superficial organisms. Both patients had been using proton pump inhibitors for many years. We review the literature regarding the distribution of H. pylori within the stomach and the effect of proton pump inhibitor use on H. pylori distribution.

Effects of omeprazole on ethanol lesions

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to study the effects of omeprazole on normal and ethanol damaged gastric mucosa, and to estimate plasma gastrin levels following the administration of omeprazole for 2 weeks. The dosage of omeprazole was 50 mg/kg body weight, once daily via gavage. In omeprazole treated animals, serum gastrin levels showed statistically significant increases compared with the control and ethanol treated animals. Our results indicate that omeprazole has no protective effect on ethanol-induced alterations in gastric mucosa and, in fact, appears to produce worsened lesions. In achlorohydric doses, omeprazole can induce significant gastrin levels with consequent hypertrophy and hyperplasia of enterochromaffin-like cells and somatostatin cells. It is believed that this powerful drug should be reserved for patients who are refractory to standard H(2)-receptor antagonist therapy.