EFFECT OF REBAMIPIDE ON THE GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN CONTENT OF THE ULCERATED RAT STOMACH

To elucidate the mechanism of the anti-ulcer effect of rebamipide -(4- chlorobenzoylamino)-3-[2-(1H)-quinolinon-4-yl] propionic acid), change s in glycosaminoglycan (GAG), uronic acid and hexosamine contents of s tomach tissue were examined in rats treated with the ulcer-inducing ag ents and/or rebamipide. Uronic acid and hexosamine contents in acid hy drolysates of stomach tissue were increased after diethyldithiocarbama te (DDC, 800 mg/kg, sc) or histamine (300 mg/kg, ip) treatment, and si milar changes in the GAG, uronic acid, and hexosamine levels were obse rved in stomach tissue extracts. Pretreatment with rebamipide (60 mg/k g, ip) resulted in an additional increase in the contents of the above components after DDC or histamine treatment. However, rebamipide trea tment alone did not increase the gastric contents of GAG and GAG compo nents in normal rats. Gel filtration chromatography of extracted GAGs suggested that DDC, histamine and rebamipide treatments do not cause a change in the aggregated forms of gastric GAGs. These results suggest that rebamipide stimulates the GAG synthesis in the ulcerated stomach and that this effect may contribute to the healing process of gastric ulcer. (C) Elsevier, Paris.