title: Verapamil worsens ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
abstract: The effect of verapamil on ethanol-induced gastric ulceration was investigated in rats. Orally administered ethanol (0.5 ml), 10, 20 or 40% v/v, dose dependently produced glandular lesions, ranging from petechiae to haemorrhagic ulcers. These lesions were worsened by verapamil (2, 4 or 8 mg/kg given intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 min beforehand) in the 30 min and 2 h ethanol-exposure experiments. However, ethanol ulceration or its aggravation by verapamil was antagonised by calcium gluconate (112 or 224 mg/kg given per os (p.o.) 30 min before ethanol administration) in a dose-related manner. These findings suggest that intracellular calcium depletion in the gastric glandular mucosa may account for ethanol ulceration and the ulcer-aggravating action of verapamil.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D014700:Verapamil; D002125:Calcium Gluconate