Effect of Nicotine and Alcohol Pretreatment on the Gastric Mucosal Damage Induced by Aspirin, Phenylbutazone, and Reserpine in Rats

The effect of nicotine and alcohol pretreatment by feeding nicotine (2.5 mg/100 ml), alcohol (25%, v/v) and their combination (nicotine 2.5 mg/100 ml + alcohol 25%, v/v) in drinking water ad libitum for 21 days was studied on the gastric mucosal damage induced by aspirin, phenylbutazone, and reserpine in rats. When given alone, neither nicotine nor alcohol produced any visibly discernible gastric lesions. Their concurrent administration, however, produced minor injury to the gastric mucosa appearing as 5-7 circular ulcers of less than 1 mm in diameter. Pretreatment with nicotine, alcohol, and their combination resulted in the significant augmentation of gastric ulcers produced by aspirin, phenylbutazone, and reserpine. The augmentation of gastric lesions in the group pretreated with the combination of nicotine and alcohol was significantly greater than in the groups treated by either of them alone. The effect of nicotine on the mucus neck cell population of the gastric mucosa and pancreatic bicarbonate secretion, and the gastric mucosal damaging effect of chronic alcohol treatment may be responsible for the potentiation of ulcerogenic effects of aspirin, phenylbutazone, and reserpine.