ELISA and Western blot studies with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in experimental duodenal ulceration and healing

Time-dependent changes of duodenal and gastric mucosal levels of bFGF and PDGF were examined in rats after oral administration of the duodenal ulcerogen cysteamine-HCl. The animals were killed at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 7 days or 14 days after the first dose of cysteamine and the duodenal ulcers were evaluated. The gastric and duodenal mucosa was scraped and homogenized for Western blot and ELISA studies. The ulcer formation was macroscopically detectable at 12 h while the largest ulcers were seen at 48 h. In parallel, the duodenal mucosal concentration of bFGF increased at 12 and 24 h and reached its maximum at 48 h, while the PDGF concentration was slightly elevated at 12 and 48 h, and a more than 3-fold peak was seen at 24 h. The gastric mucosal level of bFGF and PDGF did not change during the development and healing of duodenal ulcers. Conclusions 1. The early (24-48 h) elevation of duodenal mucosal bFGF and PDGF might be a tissue-specific response to duodenal ulceration. 2. These high endogenous levels of growth factors are not sufficient to prevent the ulcer formation and are not maintained in the spontaneous healing phase (7-14 days) 3. Thus, bFGF and PDGF may have a role in the natural history of duodenal ulcer disease.