title: Effect of dopamine on the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
abstract: Dopamine, as a neurotransmitter in the brain, is also present in the gastroduodenal mucosa and has been implicated in several functions in these tissues. Recent study showed that dopamine acts as a potent antitumor/angiogenic activity through suppression of growth factor expression. Since growth factors are known to play a crucial role in the mechanism of wound healing, it is possible that dopamine has a deleterious influence on the healing of gastric ulcers. In the present study, we examined the effect of dopamine on the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Gastric ulcers were induced in male SD rats by serosal application of acetic acid for 60 sec. Dopamine was subcutaneously given twice daily for 7 days, starting 3 days after ulceration. In some case, the osmotic mini-pump filled with dopamine was implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous space in rats for 7 days. VEGF and Flk-1 mRNA expressions were determined by RT-PCR. Dopamine (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg) given subcutaneously for 7 days did not significantly affect the healing of gastric ulcers. The expression of VEGF and Flk-1 mRNA in the ulcerated mucosa was up-regulated after ulceration, and these expressions were not affected by dopamine. Likewise, dopamine (0.6 mg/kg/hr) infused continuously using the osmotic mini-pump also had no effect on the healing of these ulcers. These results suggest that dopamine, although reportedly shows a potent antitumor/angiogenic activity, does not cause any influence on the healing of the pre-existing gastric ulcers in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amagase
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D019342:Acetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine