Omeprazole provides protection against experimentally induced gastric mucosal lesions

Omeprazole, given orally to rats, protects the gastric mucosa against various necrotizing agents, in doses (ED50 values 12-40 mumol/kg) which inhibit acid secretion. However, the protection is due to reduced acid secretion since omeprazole given intravenously in doses which completely inhibit acid secretion is not protective. The mechanism of the protective effect of omeprazole is unknown, but does not seem to be due to stimulation of the endogenous synthesis of prostaglandins since the effect was not blocked by indomethacin.