Woyike A. Ovutor

In the present study, the effects of pre-treatment with catecholamine on indomethacin-induced ulcer were studied. Rats were exposed to various treatments with epinephrine and dopamine 30 minutes before ulcer was induced using NSAID (indomethacin). Experimental ulceration was induced in fasted rats using Indomethacin (40mg/kg.p.o). Four hours later after indomethacin administration, the stomachs were opened under thiopentane anesthesia and the ulcer area scored by planimetry. Sections of the stomachs were prepared for histology and stained for apoptotic cell count. Acid secretion was also studied in the control and treated animals by pylorus ligation technique. Indomethacin treatment resulted in the formation of ulcer with ulcer index of 5.0±0.5 while the pre-treatment with catecholamine significantly reduced ulceration episodes (epinephrine: ulcer index=3.0±0.7, dopamine: ulcer index=2.0±0.7, p