Protective effect of cetraxate, a new antiulcer drug, against serotonin-induced ulcer

Cetraxate increased gastric mucosal blood flow and inhibited the decrease in blood content of the rat gastric preparation, as induced by serotonin. In addition, this compound decreased the inside pressure of the rat stomach and the tone of the rat fundus strip and inhibited the increase in gastric emptying rate induced by serotonin. Further effects of the drug were decrease in the tone of isolated rabbit aorta and inhibition of platelet aggregation as induced by thrombin. Decrease in the vascular resistance was apparently related to increase in the gastric blood flow. These experimental results suggest that the antiulcer effect of cetraxate is due to the improvement of blood circulation in the gastric mucosa.