Sodium polyacrylate (PANa) is a water-soluble, high-molecular compound, and its aqueous
solution shows a very high viscosity and stringiness. In the present study, preventive effects of PANa on three kinds of esophageal lesions induced by gastric juice were examined in comparison with those of
aceglutamide aluminum and
sodium alginate. The influences of PANa on gastric contents were also studied. The preventive effect of PANa given intraesophageally on esophageal lesions induced by the intraesophageal application of gastric juice was more potent than
aceglutamide aluminum and
sodium alginate.
Oral administration of PANa inhibited the formation of esophageal
ulcer by pylorus
ligation more markedly than
aceglutamide aluminum, whereas
sodium alginate had no effect in a high dose of 500 mg/kg. In preventing
gastric ulcer which occurred simultaneously with the esophageal
ulcer after the pylorus
ligation,
aceglutamide aluminum was most potent, and PANa was as potent as
sodium alginate.
Oral administration of PANa showed a more protective effect than
aceglutamide aluminum on the esophageal ulceration induced by the simultaneous
ligations of the pylorus and limiting ridge, whereas
sodium alginate in a high dose of 500 mg/kg had little effect on the
ulcer formation. PANa caused only a slight increase in the pH of gastric juice and a slight decrease in
pepsin activity. From the results, it may be concluded that PANa showed an antiulcerogenic activity mainly due to its mucosa covering action against gastric juice.