Histochemical and pathological changes in rat gastric mucosa following Aloe vera gel and cortisol administrations

Abstract

Histopathological and histochemical changes after 1/2, 1, 3, and 7 days of cortisol (COL), Aloe Vera gel (AG), and combined COL and AG administrations on the gross appearance, the pattern of distribution and intensity of staining of the mucosubstances in the various epithelial components of the rat corpus and antral mucosa as well as the thickness of these parameters were investigated. COL (10 mg/100 g, bw, sc, bid) administrations alone produced severe multiple erosions in the corpus at 7 days while AG (5 mg/100 g bw, po, bid) alone had no effect, and the group of rats treated with both COL and AG contained some ulcers in the corpus but at a slightly lesser degree of severity. As revealed by the Alcian blue pH2.5-periodic acid-Schiff and Hematoxylene and Eosin stained sections, 5 ?, hemorrhagic erosions with some leukocytic infiltration and evidence of necrosis at the bed and peripery of the lesioned site. The thickness of the corpus surface epithelium and foveolar cells as well as the intensity of staining of the mucosubstances of the surface epithelium and the apical portion (isthmus) of the corpus glands were greatly diminished following COL, particularly at 7 days following the threatments. On the other hand, AG seemed to act specifically and mainly at the deeper portion of the glandular tissue of the corpus to promote the synthesis and release of the (acidic mucus predominating) mucosubstances. The ulcer-producing effect of COL and the ulcer-healing effect of AG were discussed in relation to these changes.