Teprenone, an anti-ulcer agent, increases gastric mucosal mucus level via nitric oxide in rats

We examined whether the increasing action of teprenone (TP) on mucus synthe sis and content in rat gastric mucosa is related to nitric oxide (NO) forma tion via NO synthase (NOS) in the tissue. TP (200 mg/kg)-induced increases in levels of gastric mucosal hexosamine and adherent mucus were inhibited w ith decreased gastric mucosal NOS activity and nitrite/nitrate concentratio n by co-administration of N-G-monomethyl L-arginine (100 mg/kg), a NOS inhi bitor, but not its D-isomer. These results suggest that TP exerts an increa sing action on gastric mucus synthesis and content possibly under the condi tion of maintained NO production via NOS in gastric mucosal tissues, althou gh the precise mechanisms for the action of TP is still unclear.