Ulcer Formation in Rat Stomach with Diethyldithiocarbamate

Abstract

It has been suggested that superoxide radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal lesions after ischemia. To prove a participation of O-2 in gastric mucosal lesion formation, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), an inhibitor of Cu, Zn-super-oxide dismutase (SOD), was injected into rats and its ulcerogenicity was examined. Subcutaneous injection of DDC was employed, because of high mortality after intraperitoneal injection of the drug. At 7h after the injection of the drug, many ulcers appeared in the stomach, with suppression of SOD activities in the gastric mucosa, suggesting the participation of O-2 in ulcer formation in the stomach.