[An animal model of peptic ulcer induced by destruction of dopaminergic neurons].

An animal ulcer model resembling human peptic ulcer elicited with neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) by different routes of administration, i.e., intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections was newly established. MPTP given in multiple daily doses by either i.c.v., s.c. or i.p. produced 50%-100%, 75% and 100% gastric or duodenal ulcers respectively with low mortality and was indicative of a better animal model in elucidating the correlation between neurotransmitters and ulcer diseases. This compound decreased total gastric acid output, increased the combined mucus secretion and serum gastrin, but had little effect on secretion of free gastric acid. Thus these results showed that MPTP-induced gastroduodenal ulcers are possibly associated with impaired defensive ability of mucosa, especially of mucus bicarbonate barrier instead of gastric acid. However, further study is needed to demonstrate why administration of the drug in different routes produced different ulcers.