Gastric mucosal hexosamine content in outpatients free of gastric lesions and those with gastric ulcer

The mucosal hexosamine content was studied, which is an indicator of mucosal glycoproteins, in the biopsied materials by endoscopy in 36 gastric ulcer cases and 58 outpatients free of gastric lesions as control cases. In control cases, the biopsied materials were taken from three points; from the lesser curvature of the antrum, the lesser curvature of the gastric angle and the posterior wall of the upper corpus. In gastric ulcer cases, the biopsied materials were taken from four points; from the same three points as the control cases and from the edge of ulcer. The Neuhaus's method was employed for measurement of the mucosal hexosamine content. In control group, the mucosal hexosamine content was significantly higher in the lesser curvature of the antrum than that in the posterior wall of the upper corpus. With advancing age of subjects, the mucosal hexosamine content became significantly decreased in the antrum and at the gastric angle, while unchanged in the upper corpus. In addition, the mucosal hexosamine content was significantly decreased in the antrum and at the gastric angle, with advance of the glandular atrophy in the pyloric gland area. In gastric ulcer group, the mucosal hexosamine contents of the upper corpus and the antrum were lower at the active stage, higher at the healing stage and lower at the scarring stage of ulcer as well as that of the edge of ulcer. Furthermore, in any case of gastric ulcer, the mucosal hexosamine contents showed significantly lower compared with that in control group.