Fig. 4.

Macroscopic appearances, histology and scanning electron micrographs of mice gastric tissues after ulcer induction by ethanol and protection by PCMS (sample 3). Gastric ulcers were induced in mice by oral administration of 50% ethanol and PCMS solution was administered orally prior to ethanol treatment in different doses as explained. The control mice received sterile PBS only. After 3 h, mice were sacrificed and the stomachs were processed for histology and SEM studies. Each column in the panel attribute to the experimental condition as designated in the overhead title. (a) Macroscopic pictures of the stomach of mice of all the groups after dissection. (b) Transverse sections of stomach tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and observed at 10X magnification. Histological appearances of gastric epithelium, pits and glands in (i) control, (ii) ethanol treated, (iii) only PCMS treated for 30 min (iv) PCMS 10 μl pretreated ethanol treated, (v) PCMS 25 μl pretreated ethanol treated, (vi) PCMS 50 μl pretreated ethanol treated and (vii) PCMS 100 μl pretreated ethanol treated tissues. Gastric mucosal epithelium and glandular region (black arrows) were demonstrated. (c, d) Scanning electron micrographs of the above mentioned groups were shown. Tissues were processed and photographed as described in “materials and methods” section. Oval or circular epithelial cells were seen with regular arrangement in control and only PCMS treated tissues, while loss of epithelial cells integrity was palpable in ulcerated and PCMS 100 μl treated tissues which was almost restored to control level in PCMS 25 μl and 50 μl treated tissues. Again the tissue architecture is lost in presence of ethanol when the dose is increased beyond 50 μl.