Thioctic acid protection against ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The gastric protective effect of thioctic acid, a sulfhydryl compound, against chemically induced mucosal lesions has not been reported.

METHODS

Fasted Wistar rats (24 h) were treated (gavage administration) with graded doses of thiotic acid (12.5, 25, 37.5, 50 mg/kg) followed 0.5 h later by the gavage administration of 1 ml 96% ethanol or intraperitoneal administered indomethacin. The gastric mucosa was examined grossly and histologically for an evaluation of the lesions.

RESULTS

Pretreatment of rats with thiotic acid has shown a significant decline in the mean number, size, incidence and severity of mucosal lesions induced by both ethanol and indomethacin.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first evidence that thiotic acid protects the rat gastric mucosa against chemically induced damage. Its is speculated that this finding may prove to be important in the development of improved therapies for the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers in humans.