Degraded Carrageenan and Duodenal Ulceration in the Guinea-pig

Abstract

DEGRADED carrageenan, given orally, will protect guinea-pigs from the peptic ulceration which can be caused by the injection of a suspension of histamine in a wax–oil base. The protection is seen principally in the duodenum where the ulceration is more severe in this type of experiment although some diminution of the gastric ulceration is also seen¹. Duodenal ulceration is believed to be caused by excessive contact with abnormal quantities of highly acid gastric juice² and this has been accepted as true also of the experimental duodenal ulcer which follows histamine injection in the guinea-pig. Also, it has been shown recently³ that histamine seriously disturbs the sulphate content of the mucosa and mesenchymal tissue of the duodenum and stomach of guinea-pigs, and eventually leads to a fall in sulphate content in the duodenum at the time and sites of formation of duodenal ulcer. Degraded carrageenan, a low-molecular-weight sulphated polysaccharide, has been shown to diminish the volume and acidity of histamine secretion⁴, to interfere with peptic activity⁵ and is believed to protect the mucosa¹ by complexing with mucoproteins so providing a protective coating more robust than mucin^1,6. These facts constitute our knowledge of the mode of action of sulphated polysaccharides in experimental ulceration.