Use of prostaglandin inhibitor, 2-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl) propionic acid,with regard to morphological and enzymatic changes of gastric mucosa

2-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl) propionic acid is introduced to treatment as non-steroid antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) under the trade-mark of Naprosyn. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis is regarded as the most likely mechanism of its action. In some patients, its side-effects include gastritis, reactivation of ulcerous niche, and upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The absence of complex studies addressed to the question of morphological and histochemical changes in gastric mucosa after oral administration of Naprosyn prompted our undertaking. In experimental animals, with varying doses (10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) and variously long administrations (1 week and 3 weeks), a trial has been reported here upon. In the frozen-sectioned preparations, the histochemical reaction for acid phosphatase activity, according to Gomori, was made. The paraffin sections were subjected to the HE staining, PAS staining according to McManus and with the Masson's method. Our results of the morphological and histochemical studies in rats support the clinical observations of mucosal destruction in stomach in patients after oral administration of Naprosyn.