Antiulcer activity of clotiazepam in rats

Effect of the anti-anxiety drug clotiazepam on the experimental gastric ulceration induced by restraint and water-immersion stress or aspirin was studied in rats. Clotiazepam prevented the development of each gastric ulcer. From the effect of clotiazepam on aspirin-induced ulceration, we presumed that clotiazepam should have some other antiulcer mechanism in addition to its action on the central nervous system. There was an appreciable correlation between the decrease in the hexosamine level of gastric tissue and associated ulceration. After treatment with aspirin, the hexosamine level was abruptly reduced and was maintained at a low level for several hours. In the clotiazepam -pretreated group, the hexosamine level reduced by aspirin was progressively restored to the intact level. By histological examination with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)/alcian-blue (AB) staining, clotiazepam increased the amount of gastric mucopolysaccharides decreased by aspirin. Clotiazepam did not affect gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. Atropine and cimetidine inhibited ulceration induced by stress or aspirin and gastric secretion, but did not affect the hexosamine level reduced by aspirin. These results indicate that the antiulcer efficacy of clotiazepam may be attributed to its action not only on the central nervous system, but also on the mucus in gastric mucosa.