Effect of furazolidone on gut catecholamine in cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer in the rat

Pharmacological, therapeutic and toxicological properties of furazolidone: some recent research

Some of the recent publications on the pharmacological, therapeutic and toxicological properties of the antimicrobial agent furazolidone (FZ) are briefly reviewed. In animals, most of the recently published papers focus on (1) the methodology of measuring the residues of the drug and its metabolites in edible tissues; (2) the carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of FZ; (3) the cellular and molecular basis of FZ-induced cardiomyopthy, and the action of different cardioprotectant drugs thereon; and (4) hormonal effects. In humans, the use of FZ as an anti-ulcer drug and in controlling infectious diseases, especially opportunistic infections in AIDS patients, is described.

Treatment of peptic ulcer disease with furazolidone

Furazolidone (FZ) has been used in China as a treatment of peptic ulcer disease for about 20 years. Clinical and experimental studies suggest that it has good short-term and long-term effects on both human and animal ulcers. The ulcer healing rate is related to the dosage and course of treatment. The healing rate of a high dose, 2 week course is about 70-75% and the relapse rate after 3 years is 9.5%. The adverse reactions to FZ are not severe, and are well tolerated in most patients. However the mutagenic studies of several biological systems indicate that it has a mutagenic effect, but the mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on humans and animals remain questionable, because FZ has been biotransformed into other metabolites. The mechanisms of FZ in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease are not fully understood, perhaps partly due to the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory reaction and partly to the antibacterial activity to Helicobacter pylori (HP). The long-term effects of FZ are still not clear.

Duodenal ulcer and eradication of Helicobacter pylori in a developing country. An 18-month follow-up study

Forty-eight patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer (DU) and Helicobacter pylori infection detected by 14C-urea breath test (BT) were assigned to 5 days of treatment with furazolidone, metronidazole, and amoxicillin in addition to eventual classical anti-ulcer agents if necessary. Clinical evaluation and BT were repeated at 2, 6, and 18 months after therapy to determine H. pylori eradication or reinfection. Endoscopy was also repeated at 6 and 18 months after treatment to detect DU relapse. In 29 (60%) patients H. pylori had been eradicated at 2 months after therapy, and in 19 (40%) infection persisted. After successful eradication, 6 of 29 (20.7%) were reinfected. All 24 patients who were negative at the 18-month evaluation were asymptomatic, free of anti-ulcer drugs, and with healed ulcers, whereas among the 19 positive patients followed up, 11 (57%) continued to be symptomatic and still using anti-ulcer agents (p less than 0.010), and 10 (53%) showed active ulcers at endoscopy (p less than 0.010). H. pylori eradication is clearly followed by long-term remission of DU. Reinfection may be an additional problem in treating DU patients in developing countries.

Effect of furazolidone on tissue sulphydryl groups, ascorbic acid, and lipid peroxide levels in the rat, and the influence of dimethylsulphoxide thereon

The concentrations of sulphydryl groups (SH), ascorbic acid (AA) and lipid peroxide (LP) were measured in the liver, kidney and brain of rats 24 h after treatment with furazolidone at single oral doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg. The drug produced significant reductions in the concentrations of SH, and significant increases in the concentrations of LP, in the tissues studied. The level of AA was significantly decreased in the livers (but not the kidneys or brains) of rats treated with furazolidone at a dose of 300 mg/kg. The concentrations of AA in the tissues of rats treated with lower doses were unaffected. In another experiment, furazolidone was given orally to rats at a dose of 300 mg/kg, together with a subcutaneous injection of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) at a dose of 8 g/kg, and SH measured in the liver 24 h later. DMSO alone had no significant effect on SH concentration. However, when DMSO was given concomitantly with furazolidone, SH concentration was significantly less depressed than when furazolidone was given alone. It is concluded that DMSO protected tissues against toxicity induced by furazolidone.

Attenuating effect of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor furazolidone on the anti-carcinogenetic effect of cysteamine on gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats

The effect of furazolidone on inhibition by cysteamine of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was investigated in inbred Wistar rats. After oral treatment with MNNG for 25 weeks, rats received cysteamine, furazolidone, or both compounds. In week 52, rats treated with cysteamine had a significantly decreased incidence of gastric cancers. Concomitant treatment with furazolidone significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of cysteamine on gastric carcinogenesis. Administration of furazolidone alone significantly increased the number, but not the incidence, of gastric cancers. The norepinephrine concentration of the antral portion of the gastric wall and the labelling index of the antral mucosa were significantly reduced in rats treated with cysteamine, and significantly higher in rats treated with both compounds than in those treated with cysteamine alone. These findings indicate that the cysteamine-induced inhibition of gastric carcinogenesis is mediated by catecholamines.

Monoamine oxidase B inhibition reduces gastric mucosal blood flow, basal acid secretion, and cold water restraint-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) by selective inhibitors pargyline and L-deprenyl increases dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations in nucleus accumbens (NACB) and is associated with reduction in cold water restraint-induced gastric mucosal injury, inhibition of basal gastric acid output, and regional gastric mucosal blood flow. Similar effects were not observed with administration of MAO A inhibitors. These observations suggest that activation of central dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, particularly in NACB, are involved in the control of gastric mucosal function.