Imipramine prevents gastric lesions induced by centrally administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in rats

Cytoprotective gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 resolves major vessel occlusion disturbances, ischemia-reperfusion injury following Pringle maneuver, and Budd-Chiari syndrome

The stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 counteracts various venous occlusion-induced syndromes. Summarized are all these arguments, in the Robert’s cytoprotection concept, to substantiate the resolution of different major vessel occlusion disturbances, in particular ischemia-reperfusion injury following the Pringle maneuver and Budd-Chiari syndrome, which was obtained by BPC 157 therapy. Conceptually, there is a new point, namely, endothelium maintenance to epithelium maintenance (the recruitment of collateral blood vessels to compensate for vessel occlusion and reestablish blood flow or bypass the occluded or ruptured vessel). In this paper, we summarize the evidence of the native cytoprotective gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, which is stable in the human gastric juice, is a membrane stabilizer and counteracts gut-leaky syndrome. As a particular target, it is distinctive from the standard peptide growth factors, involving particular molecular pathways and controlling VEGF and NO pathways. In the early 1990s, BPC 157 appeared as a late outbreak of the Robert’s and Szabo’s cytoprotection-organoprotection concept, like the previous theoretical/practical breakthrough in the 1980s and the brain-gut axis and gut-brain axis. As the time went on, with its reported effects, it is likely most useful theory practical implementation and justification. Meantime, several reviews suggest that BPC 157, which does not have a lethal dose, has profound cytoprotective activity, used to be demonstrated in ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis trials. Likely, it may bring the theory to practical application, starting with the initial argument, no degradation in human gastric juice for more than 24 h, and thereby, the therapeutic effectiveness (including via a therapeutic per-oral regimen) and pleiotropic beneficial effects.

Learning behavior, escape behavior, and depression in an ulcer susceptible rat strain

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between depression (helpless withdrawal behavior) and susceptibility to stress ulcer in rats. The WKY genetic strain of rats has been described as highly susceptible to stomach ulcer development during water restraint, i.e., when placed in a jar of water and forced to swim to keep their head above water, a setting in which Richter identified "giving up" behavior akin to hopelessness (Richter, 1957). Since WKY rats tended to float in the water instead of swimming in an attempt to escape, and were also found to be relatively inactive in open field tests, a series of experiments were performed to ascertain whether their diminished activity and their failure to swim reflected slowness, cognitive impairment, or something actually akin to depression. The latter interpretation was supported by evidence from tests of shock avoidance behavior, of capacity to learn discrimination in an operant setting, and by the capacity of an antidepressive drug to lessen floating time in the forced swim test and also to reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers.

Effects of diazepam and Ro 15-1788 on duodenal bicarbonate secretion in the rat

Bicarbonate secretion by duodenal mucosa just distal to the Brunner's glands area and devoid of pancreatic secretions was titrated in situ in anesthetized rats. Intravenous injection of diazepam (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) significantly increased the secretion; this stimulation was abolished by proximal bilateral vagotomy. Ro 15-1788, a benzodiazepine antagonist that also has well-known intrinsic activity, caused similar stimulation of the secretion when administered IV (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg). Intracerebroventricular infusion of Ro 15-1788 (10 micrograms/h) resulted in a greater increase in secretion; again, this stimulation was prevented by vagotomy. Adrenoceptor blockade by phentolamine increased basal alkaline secretion but did not affect the stimulation by diazepam. The tricyclic antidepressant trimipramine (2.5 mg/kg IV) did not affect the duodenal bicarbonate secretion. For comparison, effects of diazepam and Ro 15-1788 (10(-6)-10(-4) mol/L) were also tested in isolated bullfrog duodenal mucosa. Neither drug effected the alkaline secretion in vitro. The combined results strongly suggest that benzodiazepines, as previously shown for certain brain peptides, influence the central nervous control of duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion and that their stimulation of secretion is vagally mediated. This action benzodiazepines might be used in modulating mucosal protection against acid.

The neurobiology of stress ulcers

We have reviewed the neurobiology of stress ulcers from animal models to potential pharmacotherapeutic mechanisms. The evidence strongly supports the hypothesis that certain stress-related gastric lesions are 'brain-driven' events which may be more effectively managed through central manipulations than by altering local, gastric factors. Recent advances in the use of anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs in the management of stress-related gastric mucosal injury further supports the contention that a brain-gut axis, which may have nervous, peptidergic and classic monoaminergic components, modulates the intricate and complicated pattern of communication between the brain and the stomach. Delineation of the precise pathways which make up this communication as well as their manipulation by various pharmacological agents will be the focus of future research endeavour.