Gastroprotective effect of adrenomedullin administered subcutaneously in the rat.

Subcutaneous injections of adrenomedullin prevented reserpine-induced gastric mucosal damage in a dose-dependent manner (1-1000 ng/kg), but did not interfere with the lesions produced by ethanol administration. In pylorus-ligated rats adrenomedullin significantly reduced gastric volume, total and free acid output as well as ulcer formation. The gastroprotective activity of adrenomedullin was not present in rats pretreated with cysteamine. These results suggest that adrenomedullin exerts its antiulcer effect, when it is administered subcutaneously (s.c.), probably by a mechanism which involves somatostatin related transmission.