Effect of single and repeated administration of sulpiride on the restraint ulcer in the rat.

Preventive activity of N-ethyl-2(2-methoxy-5-sulfamido-benzamidomethyl)-pyrrolidine (sulpiride, Dobren) upon restraint ulcer has been studied using two strains of rats (Wistar and Sprague-Dawley) treated with single or repeated administration of 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/kg i.p. of the drug. Wistar strain was shown to be less sensitive to the ulcerogenic procedure and a significant preventive effect of sulpiride occurred only at the dose of 10 mg/kg i.p. In the Sprague-Dawley strain a preventive effect was present not only at this dose but also at the dose of 20 mg/kg i.p. and 5 mg/kg i.p., the latter dose giving the greatest effect. Animals receiving the dose of 40 mg/kg i.p. did not differ significantly from the control in both strains. Results are discussed in relation to possible changes of the cerebral mono-amine turnover during the establishment of stress ulcer, particularly in terms of restoration of the balance between dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) neuronal activity.