Endothelin-1-induced gastric ulcer is attenuated by cetraxate

We investigated the effect of the anti-ulcer drug cetraxate on the development of the gastric ulcer induced by the submucosal injection of endothelin-1 in the rat gastric body, and its effects on gastric mucosal hemodynamics and tissue oxygenation by Laser doppler flowmetry and tissue spectrophotometry. Endothelin-1 induced gastric ulcer (ulcer length: 11.85 +/- 0.89 mm, mean +/- SEM, n = 4) which was strongly attenuated by cetraxate (ulcer length: 3.27 +/- 0.3 mm, mean +/- SEM, n = 8, p < 0.0001). Cetraxate maintained also tissue oxygenation without causing any significant effect on the endothelin-1-induced changes in gastric mucosal blood flow and volume. These results show that cetraxate exerts its cytoprotective action partly by maintaining mucosal oxygenation.