Gastric cytoprotection by sodium salicylate.

Sodium salicylate (SA), contrary to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin), was not ulcerogenic in rats. SA was also found to be cytoprotective: it prevented formation of gastric mucosal necrosis produced by either absolute ethanol or 0.6 M HCl, and formation of gastric ulcers produced by acidified ASA. The degree of protection was dose dependent. The mechanism of this cytoprotection is unknown, but unlike cytoprotection elicited by mild irritants, e.g., 20% ethanol or 0.35 M HCl, whose effects appear to be due to endogenous formation of PG by the stomach, SA acts through a different mechanisms, since its protective effect was not blocked by indomethacin.