Rats were pretreated with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) at concentrations of 2, 4 and 6% v/v in the drinking water for 7 days, then injected with a single subcutaneous dose of cysteamine (28 mg/100 g bodyweight) to induce duodenal ulceration. 2. DMSO reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the incidence and extent of the ulceration. 3. Mucus duodenal content was not significantly affected by either DMSO or cysteamine treatments.