Effect of gefarnate on endogenous prostacyclin, prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane in water-immersed rats.

Abstract

KOBAYASHI, K., ARAKAWA, T., NAKAMURA, H., CHONO, S., YAMADA, H., SATOH, H, and ONO, T. Effect of Gefarnate on Endogenous Prostacyclin, Prostaglandin E₂ and Thromboxane in Water-Immersed Rats. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1983, 140 (2), 181-185 - The level of endogenous prostacyclin (PGI₂), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) in rat gastric mucosa was determined by radioimmunoassay to examine whether gefarnate, an antiulcer agent, maintained the endogenous prostaglandin (PG) level in rats subjected to water-immersion stress. Seven-hr immersion induced gastric lesions and a marked reduction in PGI₂ and PGE₂. When gefarnate was injected subcutaneously before stress exposure, the mean ulcer index was reduced and the PGI₂ and PGE₂ levels were maintained. Our results suggest that the reduction of endogenous PGI₂ and PGE₂ is a major factor in water-immersion-induced ulcers in rats, and that gefarnate inhibits this ulcer formation by inhibiting a reduction in those PGs induced by water-immersion stress.