GASTRIC-MUCOSAL CYTOPROTECTION IN THE RAT BY NAFTIDROFURYL OXALATE

Abstract— Ischaemic gastric mucosal injury was assessed in the rat by measurement of the area of the injury produced after 6 h by reserpine (5 mg kg−1 i.p.) or 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) (50 mg kg−1 i.p.). Pretreatment with naftidrofuryl 1 mL, 1% by gavage significantly (P < 0001) protected the rat stomach against the reserpine (24 ± 2.7 mm2 vs 40 ± 4.7 mm2, mean ± s.e.m., n = 10) and 5‐HT injury (11.4 ± 1.7 mm2 vs 27 ± 4.1 mm2, mean ± s.e.m., n = 10). Naftidrofuryl 1 mL 2% by gavage was more effective (P < 0.001) in this respect and mucosal injury only developed in 50% of rats injected with reserpine (9.4 ± 1.1 mm5) and 30% of those injected with 5‐HT (3.2 ± 0.4 mm2). Administration of naftidrofuryl 1 mL 5% by gavage completely protected the rat against both the reserpine‐ and 5‐HT‐induced acute gastric mucosal injury. This protection was not associated with any significant influence on the H+ output. 1990 Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain