The use of a thymidine incorporation assay in the evaluation of the healing process following ethanol or indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats.

Measurements of the extent of gastric damage and measurement of [3H]-thymidine uptake by gastric cells were performed over time in rats whose stomach had been damaged with 2 ml 100% EtOH or 80 mg/kg indomethacin. Both compounds decreased the uptake of [3H]-thymidine, with the lowest values observed 10 min or 6 h after administration of EtOH or indomethacin, respectively. A slow recovery, toward control values, was then observed. An almost complete normalization was observed 1 day or 3 days after indomethacin or EtOH. The variations of [3H]-thymidine uptake correlated with the extent of gastric damage, with low values observed during the expansion phase of a lesion. In conclusion, measurement of [3H]-thymidine uptake by gastric cells is a reliable index of gastric damage and can be used in the study of healing process.