Examination of the Potential Antiulcer Activity of the Calcium Antagonist Propyl-Methylenedioxyindene

Since propyl-methylenedioxyindene (pr-MDI) exhibits significant protective effects against stress-induced ulcers in rats at subcardiovascular doses (10–30 mg/kg, i.p.), the aim of the present study was to explore the effect of this intracellular calcium antagonist on cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers at the same low doses. Duodenal ulcers were induced in rats with a single dose of cysteamine (425 mg/kg, s.c), which produced an 80% ulcer incidence within 24 h without affecting gastric acid concentration. Administration of pr-MDI (10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) at 0, 6 and 12 h post-cysteamine did not afford protection against ulceration. On the other hand, atropine (10 mg/kg, s.c, administered at 0, 6 and 12 h post-cysteamine) resulted in a 69% inhibition of ulceration, and the antacid Maalox (2 ml, administered p.o. at 0, 2,4, 6 and 12 h post-cysteamine) completely prevented ulceration. The failure of pr-MDI to protect against duodenal ulceration is discussed in relation to its pharmacological mechanism of action and the pathogenetic mechanism of action of cysteamine.