EFFECTS OF REBAMIPIDE, A NOVEL ANTIULCER AGENT, ON GASTRIC-MUCOSAL INJURY-INDUCED BY PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR IN RATS

We examined the role of gastric mucosal blood flow, lipid peroxidation , and neutrophil accumulation mediated by platelet-activating factor i n the protective effect of rebamipide against gastric mucosal injury i n rats. The intravenous injection of platelet-activating factor induce d hyperemia and hemorrhagic erosions in rat stomachs. Rebamipide did n ot affect the decrease in the gastric mucosal blood flow induced by pl atelet-activating factor. The increase in gastric injury score after p latelet-activating factor injection and the increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were significantly inhibited by the administ ration of rebamipide. The gastric injury score was closely correlated with the accumulation of lipid peroxides. Tissue-associated myeloperox idase activity In the gastric mucosa significantly increased after pla telet activating factor injection; this increase was not influenced by rebamipide treatment. The protective effect of rebamipide against the platelet-activiting factor-induced gastric mucosal injury may be due to direct inhibition of lipid peroxidation or scavenging of oxygen rad icals that initiate lipid peroxidation.