Naloxone exerts a dose-dependent gastric cytoprotective effect
Kleiman, R.L.; Ephgrave, K.S.; Adair, C.G.
Acta Physiologica Hungarica 73(2-3): 213-216
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0231-424X PMID: 2596309 Document Number: 339484
Previous work has shown that naloxone inhibits the ulcerogenic effects of indomethacin and stress, although the site, mechanism or dose are unknown. We investigated whether naloxone possessed gastric cytoprotective properties, generating a dose-response curve existed for both intragastric (IG) and intravenous (IV) administration. One hundred and two rats were subjected to a four hour period of restraint, with the last two hours at 4 degrees C. Naloxone was given hourly during restraint at doses of 0 (Control), 1, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg. After sacrifice, the residual gastric volume, and pH were measured and the number of mucosal lesions scored. The cytoprotection offered by naloxone was different from control (p = 0.0001), with the intravenous route having a greater effect (p = 0.038). While this protective effect did not correlate with changes in gastric acidity, it correlated with the dose of naloxone.