Role of endogenous prostaglandins in protection of rat gastric mucosa by tripotassium dicitrate bismuthate.

Gross and microscopic examination of rat gastric mucosa demonstrated that intragastric administration to rats of tripotassium dicitrate bismuthate (TDB), a colloidal bismuth compound, protects against gastric lesions induced by 85% ethanol. Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, significantly blocked the gastric mucosal protective effect of TDB. The release of gastric mucosal prostaglandins was greater in animals treated with TDB than in control animals, both time- and dose-dependently. These results seem to indicate involvement of prostaglandins in the action of TDB.