This study was carried out to examine the effects of vitamin E on chronic gastric ulcer induced by alcohol treatment in rats. Chronic gastric ulcer model was established by oral administration of 70% ethanol at one time and supply of 15% ethanol for additional 7 days. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, approximately 200 g, were fasted for 24 hours and orally gavaged with 1 mL of 70% ethanol for the induction of acute ulcer. A supply of 15% ethanol dissolved in distilled water for 7 days were followed to

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... maintain chronic gastric ulcer. Acute ulcer group was sacrificed at 3 hours after oral administration of 1 mL of 70% ethanol. Chronic groups were divided into three groups according to vitamin E levels; low-vitamin E (LVE, 0 mg/mL oil/day), normalvitamin E (NVE, 1 mg/mL oil/day) and high-vitamin E (HVE, 10 mg/mL oil/day). These groups were fed vitamin E free diets which were made of vitamin E free vitamin mix followed AIN-93M pattern for 7 days. Histological findings of congestion, hemorrhage and necrosis in gastric tissue were shown severely in acute ulcer group and LVE group of chronic ulcer groups. The concentration of gastrin in serum was significantly higher in LVE group. The content of histamine in stomach was lower in acute ulcer group but there was no significant difference among the chronic groups regardless of vitamin E levels. Content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in gastric tissue was higher in HVE group and activities of antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase, were lower in HVE group. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities as a marker of neutrophils infiltration was significantly higher in LVE group. These results suggested that vitamin E supplementation has positive effects on healing of alcohol-induced chronic gastric ulcer through alleviation of gastric tissue injuries and reduction of the MPO activity in gastric tissue and gastrin in serum. 이라고 부르며, 이것은 가장 흔한 소화기 질환으로 알려져 있다(1). 소화성 궤양은 세계인구의 4~5%가 일생동안 한번 이상 경험한다고 보고되고 있으며, 특히 우리나라의 2005년 국민건강영양조사에 의하면 위․십이지장 궤양 발병률은 평 균 5.8% 정도로 10대 만성질환 중 5위를 차지하고 있다(2). 소화성 궤양 발병 원인 중 위산의 분비와 관련되는 물질을 공격인자라고 하며, 위장 점막의 방어력과 관련되는 물질을 방어인자라고 하는데 공격인자가 강하거나 또는 방어인자가 약할 때 궤양이 형성된다고 알려져 있다(3). 공격인자의 대표 적인 것들로는 스트레스, 술, 담배, 아스피린과 같은 진통소염 제, 스테로이드제제, 자극적인 음식, 영양결핍, Helicobacter pylori의 감염 등을 들 수 있으며, 방어기전으로는 reactive oxygen species(ROS)의 증가에 대한 항 산화력의 약화 및 프로스타글란딘(prostaglandin) 생성 저하가 궤양의 병변과 밀접하게 관련되어 있는 것으로 밝혀지고 있다(4,5). 궤양에 대한 공격인자 중 하나인 알코올은 소비량이 날로 증가되고 있는 추세이며 통계청에서 발표한 2004년 자료에 의하면 우리나라 사람들의 알코올 섭취량은 1인당 8.3 L로