The effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157, H-2-blockers, omeprazole and sucralfate on new vessels and new granulation tissue formation

A clear protection of the gastrointestinal tract and an evident anti-inflam matory effect were shown for a novel stomach pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (i.p. /i.g.) in comparison with several reference standards in various ulcer mode ls along with a protection of endothelium and particular interaction with t he NO-system. Thus, we evaluated whether this pentadecapeptide along with o ther gastroprotective agents could affect angiogenesis and the healing proc ess in vivo using a procedure initially described by Szabo and co-workers. In each rat, two sterile sponges (1 x 1 x 0.25 cm; V = 0.25 mt) with the sa me quantities of BPC 157 (10 ng.mL(-1), 10 mu g.mL(-1), 50 mu g.kg(-1)) or reference agents (cimetidine: 10, 100, 500 mg.mL(-1); ranitidine: 2.5, 25, 250 mg.mL(-1); famotidine: 10, 50, 100 mg.mL(-1); omeprazole: 10, 50, 100 m g.mL(-1); sucralfate: 1, 5, 10 mg.mL(-1)) were implanted subcutaneously in the lumbar region. The sponges were removed after 3 or 7 d, fixed in formal in, and processed for histologic and histochemical evaluation and morphomet ry assessment. Compared with the control values, the number of newly formed endothelial spaces inside newly formed granulation tissue was markedly inc reased in all animals treated with BPC 157, cimetidine, ranitidine, famotid ine, sucralfate and omeprazole, a consistent finding noted after either 3 o r 7 d. Compared with control values, markedly more granulation tissue was n oted in the rats in the groups of animals treated with BPC 157 (50 mu g) an d in the rats treated with sucralfate in all dosages used, euthanized after 3 d. In all groups treated with H-2-blockers however, similar values to th ose of controls were noted. Thus, it could be concluded that an evident ang iogenic property was consistently noted for the novel pentadecapeptide BPC 157, H-2-blockers (cimetidine, famotidine and ranitidine) and omeprazole, b esides the well known angiogenic effect of sucralfate. Furthermore, unlike H-2-blockers and omeprazole, BPC 157 stimulates the formation of granulatio n tissue, suggesting a particular activity, similar to that previously note d for sucralfate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Published by Editions scie ntifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.