Comparison of the effects of cytoprotective drugs on human plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels with continual stress exposure.

Cetraxate hydrochloride (cetraxate), ecabet sodium (ecabet), and sulpiride, which are cytoprotective drugs, have been used to treat peptic ulcers and acute or chronic gastritis. They are reported to improve mucosal blood flow in the stomach. One of the most important factors believed to cause gastric ulcers is mental and/or physiological stress. When people feel stress, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated. Therefore, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol can be indicators of stress. We examined the effects of cetraxate, ecabet and sulpiride on the plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol under stress conditions by repetitive blood sampling. Venous blood samples were taken before and 20-240 min after a single administration of the drugs or a placebo. A single dose of ecabet caused significant suppression of increases in plasma ACTH-like immunoreactive substance (IS) levels at 90 to 120 min and cortisol levels at 240 min, compared with the response to placebo. Sulpiride only suppressed increases in plasma cortisol levels at 180 to 240 min, compared with the response to placebo. A single dose of cetraxate had no effect on plasma ACTH-IS and cortisol levels. Ecabet may have a modulatory effect on the HPA axis while sulpiride may have a partial modulatory effect on the HPA axis. These effects might be beneficial in stress-related disease.