Peptic Ulcer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Peptic Ulcer, including details on helicobacter pylori, diet, symptoms, treatment.

Effects of hexarelin against acid-independent and acid-dependent ulcerogens in the rat.

Sibilia V, Torsello A, Pagani F, Rapetti D, Lattuada N, Locatelli V, Bulgarelli I, Guidobono F, Netti C

Department of Pharmacology, Chemotherapy and Medical Toxicology, University of Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milano, Italy. Valeria.Sibilia@unimi.it

The effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) or subcutaneous (sc) hexarelin (Hexa) administration, against gastric ulcers induced by ethanol (50%, 1 ml/rat/os) or Indomethacin (20 mg/kg/os) were examined in conscious rats. Hexa at 1 nmol/rat, icv or 10 nmol/kg, sc reduced ethanol-induced ulcers by 47% and 32% respectively. Hexa, but not ghrelin significantly worsened (+40%) Indomethacin-induced ulcers when injected sc. Hexa-gastroprotection against ethanol-induced ulcers was removed by the GHS-R antagonist (D-Lys3)-GRPR-6 and by the inhibitor of NO-synthase (NOS) Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Semiquantitative RT-PCR assay of gastric NOS mRNA isoforms revealed that the reduction in iNOS-derived NO and the increase of constitutive-derived NO are relevant for the gastroprotection of Hexa against ethanol-induced gastric damage.

Published 1 December 2004 in Peptides, 25(12): 2163-70.
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