Effect of elcatonin on experimental gastric and duodenal ulcers

The antiulcer action of elcatonin, an analogue of natural eel calcitonin, was compared with that of cimetidine, secretin and solcoseryl. Elcatonin (3 to 10 mu/kg, s.c.) inhibited the development of gastric ulcers induced by pylorus ligation, water-immersion stress, aspirin and reserpine and duodenal ulcers induced by cysteamine in rats. Moreover, once daily injections of elcatonin (1 to 10 mu/kg/day, s.c.) promoted the healing of acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers not only in rats but in dogs. The healing effect persisted after the cessation of administrations. Cimetidine (30 to 100 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the development of gastric ulcers induced by water-immersion stress, aspirin and reserpine and duodenal ulcers induced by cysteamine in rats. However, once daily administrations of cimetidine (30 to 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) did not show significant effect on acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers in rats. Secretin (30 to 100 mu/kg, s.c.) inhibited the development of gastric ulcers induced by pylorus ligation, water-immersion stress, aspirin and reserpine in rats, but was not effective on cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers and acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers in rats. Solcoseryl (2 ml/kg, s.c.) inhibited only the development of water-immersion stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats. These results suggest that elcatonin is different from these reference drugs in its properties of action on experimental ulcers. Mechanisms of the antiulcer action of elcatonin which has a superior effect on experimental ulcers are discussed.