Effect of atropine, PGF2 alpha and cimetidine on the beta-carotene induced cytoprotection in ethanol-treated rats

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of atropine, PGF2 alpha and cimetidine on the gastric cytoprotective effect of beta-carotene. Mucosal damage was produced by intragastric (i.g.) addition of 96% ethanol in CFY-strain rats of both sexes weighing 180-220 g. Gastric cytoprotection caused by i. g. pretreatment with 1.0 mg/kg beta-carotene 30 minutes before ethanol administration, was observed after 1 hour. Atropine (0.5 mg/kg), cimetidine (50 mg/kg) and PGF2 alpha (200 micrograms/kg) were given intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 minutes before ethanol administration with and without beta-carotene and the changes in the number and severity of the gastric ulcers were detected. PGF2 alpha did not influence the gastric cytoprotective effect of beta-carotene meanwhile it was inhibited by atropine and markedly by cimetidine. Deleterious effect of cimetidine on the beta-carotene-induced cytoprotection may be explained perhaps by the adverse effect of the two compounds on ATP-cAMP transformation hereby counteracting one another, but more data are needed to the better understanding of drug interactions relating to mucosal cytoprotection.