A protective role for calcitonin gene-related peptide in water-immersion stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
This study investigated the role of endogenous and exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in water immersion stress (WIS)-induced gastric ulcers in rats. WIS produced gastric ulcers which were inversely correlated to the decrease in CGRP-like immunoreactivity observed in the whole thickness of the corpus stomach but not in its mucosal layers. Systemic administration of CGRP (100 micrograms kg-1 s.c.) produced a significant decrease in lesion index of WIS-ulcers and this protection was inhibited by functional ablation of afferent neurons induced by capsaicin pretreatment (100 mg kg-1 s.c. in two days, a week before the experiments). These findings suggest that sensory endogenous CGRP plays a defensive role in WIS-ulcers.
Evangelista
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S
Pharmacology Dept., Istituto Farmacobiologico Malesci S.p.A., Firenze, Italy.
Renzi
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D
D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007101:Immersion; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002211:Capsaicin