A study of the antiulcer mechanisms of propranolol in rats

Although propranolol has been shown to protect against ethanol and stress ulceration, the antiulcer mechanisms are still unclear. The present study examined the antiulcer mechanisms of propranolol in three different types of ulceration induced respectively by ethanol (60%), indomethacin (30 mg/kg) and stress (cold-restraint). Propranolol pretreatment in the highest dose (10 mg/kg) given either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally (p.o.) prevented gastric mucosal damage in these three ulcer models. The three doses of the drug (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently decreased systemic blood pressure which was accompanied by a reduction of gastric mucosal blood flow. These findings suggest that the protection was unrelated to an improvement of local circulation in the stomach. However, propranolol preserved the mucus levels in the three types of ulcer models. The beta-adrenoceptor blocker also increased the basal gastric mucosal potential difference. These findings indicate that propranolol strengthens the mucosal barrier by the preservation of mucosal mucus and enhancement of the mucosal integrity in the stomach.