Teprenone (geranylgeranylacetone) is a gastric mucosal protective drug
used clinically in Japan for treatment of gastric ulcers and gastriti
s. Its effect on portal hypertensive (PHT) gastric mucosa which has im
paired defensive mechanisms is not known. In 20 PHT and 20 sham-operat
ed rats, we studied the effects of teprenone or placebo on: (1) portal
pressure; (2) gastric pH; (3) gastric mucosal blood flow using laser
Doppler flowmetry, and (4) hexosamine content in gastric mucosa. The g
astric mucosal blood flow was significantly higher in the PHT + tepren
one group than in the PHT + placebo group (463 +/- 75 and 381 +/- 82 p
erfusion units, respectively; p < 0.05). The hexosamine content was si
gnificantly lower in PHT rats than in sham-operated controls (12.6 +/-
2.3 vs. 14.3 +/- 2.2 mu g/mg, respectively). Teprenone treatment sign
ificantly increased the gastric mucosal hexosamine concentration in bo
th sham-operated and PHT rats (17.2 +/- 3.1 and 15.6 +/- 3.6 mu g/mg,
respectively). These effects of teprenone, combined with its known pro
staglandin-stimulating action, suggest a potential role for this agent
in the treatment of PHT gastric mucosal abnormalities.