Generation of endogenous prostaglandins and thromboxanes in taurocholate-induced gastric mucosal lesions

This study demonstrates that the suppression of thromboxane biosynthesis by OKY-1581, a selective inhibitor of thromboxane biosynthesis, prevents dose-dependently taurocholate-induced gastric mucosal necrosis and enhances the cytoprotective effect of low dose of taurocholate against mucosal necrosis by large dose of this agent. In all animals treated with OKY-1581, a decrease in mucosal generation of thromboxane was accompanied by an increased production of PGs probably due to availability of greater amounts of a common substrate in a cyclooxygenase pathway. This study provides direct evidence that gastric mucosa generates thromboxanes which may be involved in the pathogenesis of taurocholate-induced gastric mucosal lesions.