Effect of centrally administered oxytocin on gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats.

Aim: To investigate the effect of centrally administered oxytocin and its receptor antagonist, atosiban, on gastric acid secretion and on experimentally induced gastric and duodenal ulcers. Methods: The acute gastric ulcer models, such as pylorus ligation, indomethacin-induced and ethanol-induced gastric ulcers were used. Chronic gastric ulcers were induced by acetic acid and duodenal ulcers by cysteamine HCl. Results: In pylorus ligated rats, oxytocin (10 microg/kg, icv) showed significant antisecretory and antiulcer activity (P Conclusion: Centrally administered oxytocin possesses gastric anti-secretory and anti-ulcer activity and oxytocin antagonist, atosiban, is pro-ulcerogenic in rats.