Gastroduodenal ulceration is a recognized complication of NSAID or corticosteroid therapy, liver disease, sepsis, and neoplasia. Retrospective studies indicate that male, middle-aged and large breed dogs are most commonly affected. Rottweilers were affected at younger ages. Helicobacter has been associated with chronic gastritis; its effect on gastric mucosal barrier function (GMBF) is unknown. Previous Ussing chamber ex vivo injury models have examined changes in GMBF that relate to ulcer injury in vivo. Identification of factors associated with GMBF, as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), could identify risk factors for gastroduodenal ulceration in vivo. In this prospective study, TER was measured in control and acid-injured canine tissue to determine factors associated with changes in GMBF. These included: age, sex, neuter status, breed (large/small), and presence/degree of Helicobacter infection.

Canine gastric mucosa was collected immediately post-mortem from random-source dogs scheduled for euthanasia by an animal control facility. Acidic Ringer's solution (pH 1.2) was applied to the mucosa for 45-minutes. Tissue from each dog was also maintained at neutral pH Ringer's solution as control. GMBF was assessed using TER. Age, gender, neuter status, breed (large versus small breed) and presence/degree of Helicobacter infection were correlated with baseline TER, change in control TER over time, change in TER with acid injury, and recovery of TER after acid injury. T-tests or Mann-Whitney Rank Sum tests were used to compare gender, neuter status, breed (large versus small) and presence of Helicobacter with TER based on normality. Helicobacter infection was correlated with TER using Spearman rank correlation. Age was compared to TER using linear regression. Multiple linear regression identified predictive factors. Significance was set at p<0.05.

Female dogs and neutered dogs had a higher baseline TER (p=0.025, 0.028). Higher age was associated with decreased recovery from acid injury (p=0.011). Helicobacter and breed size were not associated with changes in TER. Sex and neuter status were predictive of baseline TER; age was predictive of recovery from acid injury.

This study demonstrated factors associated with decreased GMBF either at baseline or with injury. Elevated baseline TER in female dogs may support previously reported male sex predilection. Because most of the dogs in the current study were young to middle-aged, decreased recovery of injured mucosa may support previous findings of predilection for middle-aged dogs to develop ulcers. Further work is needed to determine if these factors are relevant in vivo and to determine overall prevalence of disease.

Disclosures

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