Dissolution of antisecretory and cytoprotective action of PGE2 in rats.

Oral administration of 60% ethanol in 150 mM HCl (HCl.ethanol) to rats produced gastric mucosal lesions within 1 hr. PGE2 given s.c. at 0.1 to 3 mg/kg 0.5 hr before HCl.ethanol significantly prevented the lesion formation. The protection afforded with 3 mg/kg of PGE2 persisted for 6 or 12 hr after administration. PGE2 given s.c. at 3 mg/kg significantly inhibited gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated and intact rats, but the action disappeared 6 hr later.