DEHYDROLEUCODINE PREVENTS ETHANOL-INDUCED NECROSIS IN THE MICE DUODENAL MUCOSA - A HISTOLOGICAL STUDY

In previous works we have demonstrated that dehydroleucodine (DhL), a sesquiterpene lactone prevents gastric damage in rats produced by necrotizing agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytoprotective effect of DhL in proximal duodenal mucosa. Male mice were fasted for 14 h. Absolute ethanol (ETOH) was employed as necrotizing agent and the animals were sacrificed by decapitation 1 h later. Other group of mice was pretreated with DhL. At the time of sacrifice, small pieces of proximal duodenum were fixed in Bouin fluid and glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde for histological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. The results reveal that ETOH treated mucosa showed extended damages on the absorbent villi with partial or total disruptions, necrosis, cellular detritus and presence of mucus on the surface. At SEM the mucosa showed histoarchitectural disorganization and necrosis. The duodenum of mice pretreated with DhL did not show alterations and the morphological characteristics of the villi were similar to control. Abundant layers of mucus covered the mucosa surface. The mechanism of the protective action of DhL might be mediated by endogenous prostaglandins or by SH-containing compounds of the mucosa.