EFFECT OF FAMOTIDINE ON GASTRIC-MUCOSAL LESIONS INDUCED BY GOLD THIOGLUCOSE IN RATS

Rats that were given an intraperitoneal injection of gold thioglucose (GTG, 0.3 mg/g) developed hemorrhagic lesions in the gastric mucosa 24 hours after the injection. The gastric juice volume and the generatio n of acid and pepsin were significantly increased 24 hours after the G TG injection (p<0.01). Simultaneous administration of famotidine (3 mg /kg) with GTG significantly reduced gastric juice secretion and the ge neration of acid and pepsin (all p<0.01), as well as suppressing the d evelopment of hemorrhagic lesions. These results indicate that there i s a relationship between the hemorrhagic lesions induced by GTG and in creased acid and pepsin generation. Rats treated with GTG seem to be a useful new animal model for the investigation of pepsin secretion.