Gastric antisecretory and antiulcer activity of oxytocin in rats and guinea pigs.

Abstract The effect of oxytocin (1 mg/kg s.c) on gastric acid secretion and on different experimentally induced gastric and duodenal ulcers was studied. The acute gastric ulcer models used were pylorus ligation, indomethacin, ethanol and histamine induced acute gastric ulcers. Chronic gastric ulcers were induced using acetic acid and duodenal ulcers by cysteamine hydrochloride. Oxytocin showed significant antisecretory and antiulcer activity in pylorus ligated rats. Similarly oxytocin reduced the ulcer index in histamine induced gastric ulcers in guinea pigs and cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers in rats. The antiulcer and antisecretory effect was comparable to that of ranitidine (50mg/kg, i.p) though less in intensity. However, it did not show any gastric cytoprotective effect in ethanol and indomethacin induced ulcer models but ranitidine showed protection (p