Figure 2.

A) Photomicrograph of a section of the fundic region of a representative control group rat. The mucosa has an intact surface epithelial covering (arrows), gastric glands stuffed in the lamina propria (L), and the muscularis mucosa (M) appears normal (H&E X100). B) Group II rat fundus showing patches of sloughing of the gastric mucosal epithelium (arrows) with signs of lining cell desquamation and degeneration of the gastric glands, which appear vacuolated (Arrow heads). The submucosa has a distinct area of haemorrhage with congestion of the nearby blood vessels (V) (H&E X100). C) Higher magnification of the submucosa showing patches of sloughing of the gastric mucosal epithelium (arrows) with signs of lining cell desquamation and degeneration of the gastric glands, which appear vacuolated (Arrow heads), and infiltration of multiple mononuclear inflammatory cells (double-tailed arrows) (H&E X200). D) Group III rat fundic sections showing a more-or-less normal gastric mucosa with a small area of the surface epithelial atrophy still apparent (arrows) (H&E X100). E) Higher magnification showing a more-or-less normal gastric mucosa, with a small area of surface epithelial atrophy still apparent (arrows) and regenerating gastric glands (L) with fewer marked signs of cytoplasmic vacuolation (arrow heads). Mononuclear cell infiltration is still evident in the submucosa (double-tailed arrows) (H&E X400).