THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ZINC-SULFATE PRETREATMENT AGAINST DUODENAL-ULCERS IN THE RAT

Exogenously administered zinc compounds have been shown to possess ant iulcer activity in the development of gastric lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc sulphate pretreatment of rats on cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers and to correlate them with changes in zinc serum and tissue levels. Atomic absorption spectropho tometry was used to determine zinc serum and tissue concentrations in all animal groups. Cysteamine produced marked duodenal ulceration in c ontrol animals 24 h after application, with an increase in endogenous zinc tissue concentrations and a marked decrease in serum concentratio ns, Zinc sulphate (20, 40 or 80 mg kg(-1)) applied per os one hour pri or to cysteamine application inhibited the development of duodenal les ions in a dose-related manner, The application of zinc sulphate in a s ingle intraperitoneal (i.p.) application (80 mg kg(-1)) did not, howev er, prevent the formation of duodenal lesions. In order to assess zinc absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, one group of rats receive d a single oral dose of zinc sulphate (80 mg kg(-1)) without cysteamin e application, The observations of this study seem to indicate that zi nc plays an important cytoprotective role in duodenal ulcer disease.