The effect of dipyridamole on experimentally induced stress ulcers

Several doses of dipyridamomle were tested to assess a reduction in gastric bleeding and ulcer formation in rats exposed to cold stress restraint. When saline was compared to 12.5 mg/kg dipyridamole and 50 units/kg heparin, dipyridamole was significantly better than saline controls (P less than 0.05) in the reduction of both gastric bleeding and gastric ulceration, while the effects of heparin were not significant in either case. Finally, mean hematocrit, platelet count, and gastric acid secretion were not significantly affected by the dose of dipyridamole used (12.5 mg/kg). The results of this study show dipyridamole to be useful in the reduction of both stress ulceration and gastric bleeding induced in rats by cold stress restraint.