RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of prostaglandins in protecting against chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage. METHODS: Early gastric vascular damage was induced in rats by oral administration of 8 mg/Kg chilli extract. The damage was assessed by estimating spectrophotometrically the amount of Evan's blue leaking into gastric tissue and luminal contents 10 min after exposure to chilli. Further groups of rats were pretreated with misoprostol (10, 25 or 50 micrograms/Kg) or dazmegrel (1, 5 or 25 mg) to evaluate their protective effects. RESULTS: Both misoprostol and dazmegrel were able to reduce gastric vascular damage induced by chilli in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: Prostaglandins may play a role in protecting against chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage.