GASTRIC-MUCOSAL FUNCTION FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF OMEPRAZOLE IN RATS

In the following study the function of gastric mucosa after withdrawal of 4-week suppression of acid secretion was examined. Rats were treat ed orally for 4 weeks with omeprazole (GAS 73590-58-6, 150 mg/kg/day). While elevated plasma gastrin levels during the treatment returned to normal 4 days after the last dosing, exogenously applied pentagastrin induced higher acid secretion compared with the vehicle-treated contr ols. Acetylsalicylic acid induced mucosal lesion 3.6-fold over the con trol as well. In contrast, the HCl-induced lesion was inhibited by 24. 4 %. These results indicate that not only the acid secretion but also the mucosal protection is enhanced after 4-week treatment with omepraz ole in rats.