title: L-dopa is protective against indomethacin-induced small intestinal ulceration in the rat: possible role of an alpha-2-adrenergic mechanism.
abstract: Dopaminergic agents ameliorate experimentally induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury, but there is no information about their effect on small intestinal mucosa. We studied the effect of L-dopa and related substances on indomethacin-induced intestinal ulceration in the rat. Ulceration was produced by s.c. injection of 30 mg/kg indomethacin, 30 min after refeeding fasted rats. Total ulcer area was measured 24 hrs after indomethacin administration. L-dopa, 5 mg/kg given in two divided doses 5 h apart, starting 30 minutes before administration of indomethacin, was found to protect the small bowel mucosa against indomethacin- induced damage (ulcer area 122 +/- 5.5 vs 224.2 +/- 5.4 mm2, mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.006). Administration of 5 mg/kg haloperidol, a dopa antagonist, did not abolish the protective effect of L-dopa. On the other hand, yohimbine, an alpha-2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, almost completely abolished the protective effect (180.4 +/- 5.3 vs 122 +/- 5.5, p less than 0.004). Clonidine 20 micrograms/kg, an alpha-2-adrenoreceptor agonist, closely mimicked the protective effect of L-dopa (141.5 +/- 10.9 vs 224.2 +/- 5.4, p less than 0.006). All drugs were give i.p. in two divided doses, at the same schedule as described for L-dopa. The results demonstrate that L-dopa has a protective effect on indomethacin-induced small bowel injury in the rat. The protective effect is probably mediated through stimulation of alpha-2-adrenoreceptors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiro
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zahavi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dinari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000633:toxicity*; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D015016:Yohimbine; D007980:Levodopa; D006220:Haloperidol; D003000:Clonidine; D007213:Indomethacin