(1) The replication method is applied to adult rabbits weighing 2-3kg. Rabbits were fasted for 12 hours before surgery but were not allowed to drink water. Administer pentobarbital sodium intravenously at a dose of 30mg/kg body weight for anesthesia. After anesthesia, the animal is fixed in a supine position on the operating table. Raise the rabbit's head and insert a gastric tube through the mouth to 3-5cm above the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Then, use an injection syringe to perfuse HCI (with a concentration of 0.1mol/L) through the gastric tube at a dose of 1ml/min for 30 minutes per day for 4 consecutive days to replicate experimental reflux esophagitis. Before and after perfusion in rabbits, the pressure of LES needs to be measured using a gastrointestinal motility meter. When the pressure drops significantly, it can lead to dysfunction of LES, causing a decrease in LES contraction function and resulting in reflux.
(2) The characteristic of the model is that acid infusion using this method can reduce the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle in the model animal, leading to decreased contraction function and causing material reflux in the stomach. Reflux material can cause damage to the esophageal mucosa.
(3) The pathogenesis of reflux esophagitis in this medical model is similar to that in humans, both of which are caused by a decrease in the function of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), resulting in reflux and an increase in reflux volume. At the same time, the ability of the esophagus to clear reflux is weakened, leading to an increase in the contact time between reflux and the esophageal mucosa, resulting in damage to the esophageal mucosa. Under light microscopy, there is significant proliferation of the basal cell layer of the lower esophageal mucosa, with neutrophil infiltration in the submucosal lamina propria. This model can mainly be used to evaluate the contraction function of the esophagus, explore the etiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, and functional changes of reflux esophagitis.