Effect of cimetidine on the mucosal hydroxyproline content of rat gastric lesions induced by compound 48/80

Extensive gastric mucosal lesions developed in rats after the administration of compound 48/80 at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg daily for 3 days. The hydroxyproline content of gastric mucosa was significantly increased 4 h after the last injection of compound 48/80, and subsequently decreased as the lesions healed. Treatment with cimetidine (CAS 51481-61-9) at a dose of 50 mg/kg (twice a day for 3 days) did not affect either the development or the healing of the compound 48/80-induced gastric lesions. However, the increase in mucosal hydroxyproline content was significantly reduced by treatment with cimetidine. This fact suggests that cimetidine might have an inhibitory effect on the regeneration of collagen in gastric mucosa.