Abstract-The actions of aminopyrine on rat gastric mucosal cyclooxygenase activity in vitro were investigated and compared with those of the cyclooxygenase the back-diffusion of H+ through the mucosa, increased the loss of H+ from the lumen, and consequently reduced H+ secretion. The analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflam matory properties and the PG synthesis inhibiting activities of these drugs have been extensively studied, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying ulcerogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract. The present study compared the effects of aminopyrine, in domethacin and aspirin on rat gastric mucosal cyclooxygenase activity under various experi mental conditions in order to try to establish the mechanisms of ulcerogenesis.
Materials and MethodsPreparation of enzyme: Male Wistar rats weighing 150-250 g were killed by ex sanguination after a blow on the head. Following removal of their stomachs, mucosal sections were prepared by separating the overlying muscle by blistering (15). This pro cedure involved inserting the tip of a fine needle (26 gauge) between the muscle and mucosa and injecting 20 mM Tris-HCI buffer (pH 7.4). The raised muscle layer was then carefully cut away. The parts of the mucosal membranes were gently homogenized (200 rpm/min) in a glass-Teflon homogenizer with ten volumes of 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). All procedures were perfor med at 0-3'C. The homogenates were used as the source of the enzyme (cyclooxy genase). The enzyme was incubated at 37°C for 6 min, after which the enzyme activity was stopped by addition of 50 Id of ice-cold 2 M citric acid. The mixture was centrifuged at 20,000 g for 10 min at 0-3°C and then assessed for the production of 6-keto-PGF1a (the stable breakdown product of PG12) using radioimmunoassay kits (16). The results were expressed as ng (6-keto-PGF1a)/mg mucosal protein and as the percentage of inhibition of the control value. Mucosal protein concen tration was determined by the method of Lowry et al. (17) with bovine serum albumin as a standard.Reaction medium: Unless otherwise stated, determination of cyclooxygenase activity was carried out at 37°C in a 1-ml reaction mixture of arachidonic acid (2 x 10-5 M), enzymes (0.7 mg gastric mucosal protein/ml), hy droquinone (4x10-4 M), glutathione (5x10-4 M), various concentrations of indomethacin, aspirin or aminopyrine, ethanol (1.0%, v/v) and potassium phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.4). The pH value of the incubation medium was always confirmed to be pH 7.4 before the start of incubation or pre-incubation.Ethanol, used as a solvent for arachidonic acid and inhibitors, had no effect on the reaction at the final concentration (2.0%, v/v) employed. Effects of indomethacin, aspirin and aminopyrine on cyclooxygenase activity under different experimental conditions: The inhi bition of cyclooxygenase by indomethacin, aspirin and aminopyrine was studied under the following three incubation conditions: a) Inhibitors (indomethacin, aspirin and aminopyrine) and arachidonic acid were simultan...