The effects of myosin light chain kinase inhibitor wortmannin on wound restoration were investigated using a culture cell model. Rabbit gastric mucosal cells formed confluent monolayer cell sheets within 48h. Cell sheets were wounded to create wounds of uniform size. The restoration was monitored by a time-lapse video disc recorder and was analyzed. The wound was completely restored with early cell migration and late proliferation in controls. Wortmannin inhibited cell migration, thus inhibiting proliferation. Results indicate that the cytoskeleton plays a key role in the restoration of gastric mucosa. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.