Figure 1.

Helicobacter pylori infection period and the degree of chronic inflammation after eradication. (a) Experimental protocol of H. pylori infection and its eradication. Gerbils were infected with H. pylori for 10, 20, or 50 weeks, and analyzed before eradication and 30 weeks after eradication. (b) The H. pylori infection period and the degree of hyperplasia. The degree of hyperplasia was dependent upon the infection period, and was decreased after eradication. (c) The H. pylori infection period and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Mononuclear cells were infiltrating independently of infection period, and their infiltration was reduced after eradication. (d) Quantification of infiltration of inflammatory cells. The degree of neutrophil or mononuclear cell infiltration was scored for 3 of the 6 (G11), 8 (G1, G2, G3, G6, G7, and G10), 12 (G8 and G12), and 15 (G4) gerbils on a four‐point scale (0 to 3), as described previously.17 In gerbils with 50 weeks of H. pylori infection, the infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells remained, even 30 weeks after eradication. Mean score ± standard error (SE) is shown.