The preventive effect of cimetidine on producing stress ulcer in rats

Stress ulcers were formed by a standard method after fasting and restraining each rat in a performed conduit tube and placing them in a cold room head inverted at 4 degrees C for three hours. The severity of the ulcer was graded into four groups; Grade 0: no ulcer, Grade 1: 1-10 ulcers, Grade 2: 11-20 ulcers, Grade 3: more than 21 ulcers. The animals were divided into six groups: Group I: no stress, no treatment; Group II: stressed but not treatment; Group III: pretreated with saline and stressed; Group IV: pretreated with antacid and stressed; Group V: pretreated with Cimetidine and stressed; Group VI: stressed and then post-treated with Cimetidine. In group II 47 out of 49 (96 per cent) developed ulcers compared to no ulcers in group I. In group V, 13 out of 38 (34 per cent) and in group IV, 13 out of 20 (65 per cent) developed ulcers. In group V, not only the incidence was reduced markedly but also the severity of ulcer was significantly less. However, post-treatment with cimetidine was not as effective as pre-treatment. Cimetidine, therefore, seems to be very effective in preventing stress induced ulcers in rat when instilled in the stomach before the stress.