Enhancement of plasminogen activator activity in the gastric wall after chronic ethanol consumption

In the normal stomach of male rats marked differences in plasminogen activator activity (PAA) and plasmin inhibition (PI), but not in plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI), were noted among cardiac area, body and pyloric region. Chronic ethanol consumption (for 15 or 30 days) at the concentration of 6% or 12% in the drinking water induced an increase in PAA in the pyloric region and the body of the stomach (the higher concentration after 15 days and both concentrations after 30 days). The response was time- and dose-dependent. At the cardiac area no change of PAA was noted. Ethanol at both concentrations induced after 30 days a decreased PAI in the pyloric region and the body of the stomach, which was expressed against u-PA, but not against t-PA. A decreased PI was noted at both concentrations of ethanol after 30 days only in the pyloric region. Therefore, changes in PAA, PAI and PI after chronic ethanol consumption were dependent on the concentration, the period of the consumption and the area along the gastric wall.