Prostaglandins and gastric mucosal protection by esaprazole in rats

Esaprazole, N-cyclohexyl-1-piperazineacetamide monohydrochloride, was studied for its activity to prevent gastric mucosal damage induced by several necrotizing agents in the rat. Its effects on acid gastric secretion and the role of gastric mucosal prostaglandin generation were also investigated. Esaprazole, given orally, dose dependently prevented the formation of mucosal damage induced by absolute ethanol, 0.2 N NaOH or 0.6 N HCl. This activity occurred at doses lower than the antisecretory doses. Esaprazole was also found to increase the gastric mucosal prostaglandin content but at doses that exceeded the cytoprotective doses. The failure of indomethacin to impair the gastric mucosal protection provided by esaprazole suggests that mechanisms other than mobilization of endogenous prostaglandins may be involved.