Prevention of Duodenal Ulcers by Administration of Prostaglandin E2(PGE2)

Duodenal ulcers were produced by constant subcutaneous infusion for 24 h of two gastric secretogogues mixed together. The agents were cither histamine + carbachol, pentagastrin + carbachol, or pentagastrin + histamine. The ulcers were localized only in the duodenum (the stomach was not involved); they were usually multiple, and duodenal perforations occurred in many instances. When prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was infused subcutaneously to animals treated simultaneously with duodenoulcerogenic doses of secretogogues, and for the same time interval, the ulcers were prevented, and the degree of inhibition was dose-dependent. It is concluded that PGE2 prevents formation of duodenal ulcers in the rat. Since prostaglandins were previously shown to reduce gastric secretion in dogs and rats, the anti-ulcer effect of PGE2 may be due to its antisecretory activity.