Reflux oesophagitis in the rat : the damaging action of pancreatic juice : the development of mural fibrosis

The results obtained in a recent study of surgically induced reflux oesophagitis in rats (Kranendonk, 1980) prompted the study presented in this thesis. In the randomized study by Kranendonk (1980) the reflux of pancreatic juice invariably resulted in oesophagitis; admixture of bile and/or gastric juice caused no significant differences in the extent of the oesophagitis. The reflux of bile or gastric juice was not associated with the development of oesophageal lesions. However, the study lacked control data on the composition of oesophageal contents as proof of the supposed reflux. Furthermore Kranendonk (19801 described the development of mural fibrosis starting after 14 days of reflux and progressing with time. The concomitant inflammatory changes, however, made a good interpretation of the presence of fibrosis impossible. It was therefore decided to further study surgically induced reflux oesophagitis in rats in order to prove the supposed reflux and to further study mural fibrosis. Being aware of the anatomical differences between the oesophagus of rats and of the human being 7 the rat was none the less chosen as experimental animal because of the ready avai!ability of a good experimental model. In addition, rats can be kept in relatively large numbers 7 allowing more elaborated experiments with appropriate statistical ·analysis.