REV 5901 and Ly 171,883 protect rat gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced damage

The effect of the leukotriene antagonist, Ly 171,883, or the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, REV 5901, on ethanol-induced gastric lesion formation in the rat was investigated. Pretreatment with REV 5901 resulted in a dose dependent decrease in lesion length. Doses of 32 and 64 mg/kg induced nearly complete protection against ethanol, while doses of 1 and 8 mg/kg were much less effective. With Ly 171,883, 32 and 64 mg/kg doses less dramatically reduced lesion length. These findings implicate products of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in the production of ethanol-induced gastric lesions.