Abstract: | In humans eicosapentaenoic acid can be converted to 3-series prostaglandins (PGF3α, PGI3, and PGE3). Whether 3-series prostaglandins can protect the gastric mucosa from injury as effectively as their 2-series analogs is unknown. Therefore, we compared the protective effects of PGF3α and PGF2α against gross and microscopic gastric mucosal injury in rats. Animals received a subcutaneous injection of either PGF3α or PGF2α in doses raning from 0 (vehicle) to 16.8 μmol/kg and 30 min later they received intragastric administration of 1 ml of absolute ethanol. Whether mucosal injury was assessed 60 min or 5 min after ethanol, PGF3α was significantly less protective against ethanol-induced damage than PGF2α. These findings indicate that the presence of a third double bond in the prostaglandin F molecule between carbons 17 and 18 markedly reduces the protective effects of this prostaglandin on the gastric mucosa. |