Effects of extracellular matrix on wound repair of cultured gastric epithelial cells were assessed. Artificial wounds were made by mechanical cell denudation in confluent rabbit gastric epithelial cell sheets which were formed on different types of extracellular matrix (e.g., collagen type I and type IV, laminin, fibronectin and Matrigel). Changes in wound size were analyzed quantitatively. Cell migration and proliferation were observed in stages of the wound repair process. The speed of wound repair was different with each extracellular matrix studied and was fastest on Matrigel. The type of extracellular matrix used in this study modulated both cell migration and proliferation. Therefore, it is concluded that extracellular matrix plays an important role in rates of gastric mucosal wound healing.